A few times a year I volunteer at the IWM in Duxford to talk to families and school parties about my experiences as a steely-eyed dealer of death. The programme, called
We Were There: Ask Questions about Conflict, seeks to bring first hand experience of military service/conflict to a wider audience and is run at all IWM sites (Manchester, London, Duxford). The pool of volunteers is not very big, and many are in their latter years. I have been asked to seek out more volunteers to take part; I've already had some help from a couple of military charities for specific events and will be approaching them again, along with regional/regimental associations, etc. No affiliation with a charity/association is required, just the willingness to be asked questions about a variety of topics/experiences and not to swear in front of the kids (I know this will be a challenge for some). It's actually enjoyable; you get to tell your stories to people who want to listen and find out more, and it can be quite cathartic to recount some of your experiences. It's also a great way for the veteran voice to be heard by pupils (currently KS2, but expanding to KS3 next year), teachers and families who otherwise will get their understanding of military people from social media.. Travel is paid, and sandwiches/tea/biccies provided - you are also free to wander the museums (I'll check whether passes allow access on things like air display days).
If anyone wants to find out more - PM me, yah?
View attachment 437337
One of my fellow volunteers, not me