Karen Histed-Todd has sent us a research enquiry regarding historical authenticity for a Jubilee-themed school fete.
From her e-mail:
I am secretary of Friend's of Widecombe School and we are helping school to organise the school fete on Friday 1st June afternoon. We are incorporating the Queen's Diamond jubilee celebration into this and want the children, teachers and friend's members dressed as per the era and want games that would have been played for the children. We also want to put out a table with a child's weekly ration as per 1952 and end with a tea party offering typical food of the time.
I have been trying to research via the internet but require some further help.
I was wondering if either yourself or another member of the society could help with some information that could help us to create the right atmosphere and to ensure we are "historically accurate".
I would also be interested to know if there was somebody who would be willing to come along to talk to the children about what it was like during the Queen's Coronation year.
If anybody has any suggestions to make the fete authentic we would welcome any suggestions.
If you can help or advise, please contact Ms Histed-Todd (karenht@hotmail.co.uk).
For those unaware of the historical context: following wartime shortages, food rationing was still in force in the UK in 1952. Although rationing had ended in 1950 for canned and dried fruit, chocolate biscuits, treacle, syrup, jellies and mincemeat, sweets and sugar were still rationed (this ended in 1953); the end of all food rationing didn't happen until July 1954.
- RG
1952: children's food ration
