Memories of wartime evacuation were the order of the evening at the first of the new season of meetings at Trinity Methodist Church, as David Aldred and colleagues gave a high-tech DVD presentation of life as a youngster safe from the threat of war.

Memories of wartime evacuation were the order of the evening at the first of the new season of meetings at Trinity Methodist Church, as David Aldred and colleagues gave a high-tech DVD presentation of life as a youngster safe from the threat of war. Before the evening began, however, Chris Brooks announced the tragic death of a founder member of the society, Steve Edwards. Members then joined Chris in a minute's silent tribute.

The evening's show was dedicated to those small children, many now in their eighties, who were moved firstly from Dagenham to Lowestoft in September 1939, and then to the Lowestoft children themselves, who were in turn evacuated following the fall of Dunkirk which placed the town directly in the line of enemy action. Indeed, with the amount of naval and military action in and around Lowestoft at the time, and with its harbour and easy access into the surrounding countryside, Lowestoft had been earmarked by German forces as one of the first places to be secured by any invasion force - as a captured German air force map dated September 1940 proved. And it was amazing just how many snapshots of youngsters could bring back such a plethora of memories. Not all happy, unfortunately; one or two were not so fortunate with their billets; however the teachers who accompanied their classes to Worksop, for example, and other parts of the Midlands were fondly remembered. Naturally, there were poignant recollections of those youngsters who stayed in the town during the conflict, notably the destruction of the town centre in January 1942.

The evening also being the society's AGM, chair Chris Brooks, vice-chairman Keith Lewis, treasurer Peter Killby and secretary Ian Robb were duly re-elected for the forthcoming year. It was also unanimously decided to keep the annual subscriptions (which are now due) to �2, with 50 pence donation on the night to cover the cost of refreshments.

The next meeting will be on Friday 9 October at Trinity Methodist Church, High Street, when Dennis Meadow will be talking about the history of the Oulton Broad Motorboat Club. Contact the secretary on 01502 564601 for more details.