Willie Reid, one of Street Kids Direct´s volunteers, organises regular historical walks around High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire, to raise funds for the work of the charity.
Willie´s most recent walk was to commemorate VE Day, and 20 people joined him for the walk around High Wycombe, starting with 6 wreaths being laid at the Evacuation of Dunkirk Memorial in Castle Street. The event was attended by the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, the Mayor of High Wycombe and a representative from the British Legion.
Thanks to Willie for organising the walk and for raising more funds for the work with at-risk children in Central America.
Willie reported back on the day: "On the way, we talked about High Wycombe trying to raise £5,000 to have a Spitfire aeroplane named after the town in 1940. The money was raised, including funds from a pupil of a local school sending in all her saved pocket money - 1/1 3/4d in old money. And here I had an example of an old shilling, penny, halfpenny and farthing!
Evacuated children from London also figured, as did the Women’s Land Army, which had a camp close by. Young women had to work in the fields as the men had been called up to fight.
The US 8th Air Force was based at a local school - Wycombe Abbey - where a bunker was built 25’ underground. This was the HQ for all American bombing operations over Western Europe for the rest of World War II."Willie then talked about MI14 - the pigeon spy department (an Avian Air Force) and the Mosquito aeroplane designed by local man Geoffrey de Havilland, whose airframe was made of wood and glued. This meant it was the fastest aeroplane in the Allied air forces. It was also the most successful.
Willie and his team of walkers then assembled at the war memorial to remember the 217 men of Wycombe who gave their lives and are recollected in a special Book of Remembrance in the library before visiting Kelkheim Square, which is the German town High Wycombe is now twinned. Here Willie mentioned that in some cases our foes are now friends, whilst some friends have become foes. As one Prime Minister once said, "Britain has no permanent friends or foes, only permanent interests. "
Finally, and appropriately, at midday, a female piper played a lament from the window of the Guildhall.
Thank you Willie for your support and for all the walks you have done over the years.
If anyone is interested in joining Willie for an historical walk through High Wycombe, please do
