WW2 HISTORY: THE KID ON SLAPTON BEACH
FELICITY FAIR THOMPSON
In December 1943 three thousand ordinary people on the Devon coast were forced to leave the area near Slapton Sands - but without knowing why. Twelve year-old Harry is one of them, but his most precious possession, the only photograph of his father, is left behind and Harry goes back for it.
In April 1944 in the disastrous secret D-Day rehearsal called Exercise Tiger at Slapton Sands, nearly a thousand men died. It was just five weeks before D-Day. And Harry was on that beach.
Harry’s story has kept history alive and accessible. It encourages all of us to remember the sacrifice and bravery of the ordinary people and the Allied troops who were involved in this difficult episode of the Second World War.
Felicity Fair Thompson’s presentation will be about the writing of the novel which is a fictionalised account of the events at Slapton on that historic day, why she wrote the book, a description of the events at Slapton and the wonderful reaction that the story has had 80 years on.
Sat 21 Sep 9.15-10am
Flavel Auditorium
Tickets £10
There will be a book signing in the auditorium after the talk and question and answer session.
