My mother was a member from the beginning of the War. “The Beeches” in Higham Road was a home for evacuees and some of the W.V.S. members would meet there on Thursday afternoons and would darn socks and repair clothing.
The W.V.S. also had a room at the rear of the Congregational Church in Church Street, now the Salvation Army. This room was also used as the “Ministry of Food” depot where you had to go to collect your ration books. In the evening the ladies used this room to knit clothes for the evacuees and also held Whist Drives there, to raise funds.
Mrs Hewitt, wife of the manager of the Ritz Cinema, and Mrs Norman, wife of Reg Norman of “Air Ada” fame were also members.
