Lorna 1924, aged 10

This is the 300th entry in Lorna’s journal. We thought it appropriate to post a picture of Lorna herself today. So here she is aged 10, looking quietly studious as she raises her head from her book on a summer’s day in 1924.

The period since the 200th blip in Lorna’s Blipfoto journal includes 1940 war diary entries that mark some significant episodes in the early history of World War II: the end of the phoney war with the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, and Churchill’s appointment as Prime Minister, on 10th May; the evacuation of Dunkirk on 3rd June, Italy’s entry into the war on 11th June; and the fall of Paris on 14th June. We have also witnessed through Lorna’s writing some more personal aspects of living in England through wartime: her father’s departure for France under sealed orders on 7th May and his return (exhausted) two and a half weeks later on May 23rd; sheltering from an air raid on 25th June; hosting family members fearful for their safety in Bristol on 2nd July; and taking a billeted officer into the family home in Malvern on 8th July.

In the gaps between Lorna’s war diary entries we have continued to showcase her other writing (mainly poetry) and art work. We’ve also used some photographs and other artefacts from her childhood to chart her early life in Stirling, Ilford, and Sheffield.

In addition we have shared some interesting documents from Lorna’s family history. These include an early, and rather formal, letter about music from Lorna’s paternal grandfather to her grandmother written in February 1874, and another missive five months later that appears to refer to seeking permission to marry. Perhaps the most entertaining document in the set is a mysterious anonymous letter written in 1908 to a Mr Carlile that warns him against thwarting the romance of Lorna’s parents Albert and Topsie.

In our research into other branches of the family we have attempted to build a picture of their activities during World War II. We have noted, for example, that amongst Lorna’s first cousins Diana patrolled the rooftops of Gloucester Cathedral as a fire watcher,  and Maurice was a pilot in the RAF. Her step-cousins Dawn and Dennis also contributed to the war effort. Tragically, Dennis was killed in training, prompting Lorna to write a very moving in memorium poem.

We are delighted that so many blippers take a peek at Lorna’s journal each day. We look forward to comments from everyone who takes the time to leave a message, and relish each star and favourite earned. We especially enjoy hearing from the group of blippers who have become regular correspondents with ‘Lorna’ over the past few months. Thank you all for encouraging us to continue the work on Lorna’s journal. We will keep the posts coming!