Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire

This is a dramatic retelling of true stories gathered from the community who lived through WW2. Follow the lives of 3 fictional families as events unfold.

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

Follow us and our @HeritageFundL_S funded project to tell people's day2day stories from the #HomeFront in WW2.
Live Tweets begin 23/9/19

@I_W_M

[Adrian Harris @AdeHarris]

Thanks to the marvellous editors at @TLCUK I'm sharing the opening introduction to my novel Dark Times.
#literaryagents @PenguinUKBooks @BloomsburyBooks @HodderBooks @orionbooks @TitanBooks @severnhouse @OldcastleBooks
https://t.co/nSrOzBT7os

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

Remembering all who served and all who lost.
#ArmisticeDay

[Adrian Harris @AdeHarris]

In 2016 I was commissioned to write a digital #script to commemorate the events of the #Battleofthesomme You can experience this here @thesomme_sg On this #armisticeday I will remember.

[Adrian Harris @AdeHarris]

Great Uncle Ken. Killed in Burma 1945. #VJDay75 #WW2 #VJDay #Burma

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

On this 75th anniversary of #VJDay marking the end of #WW2 Our thoughts are with the survivors and relatives of the Allies who fought for freedom, particularly those who fought in the Far East.
Take a look at the stories gathered to make our remembrance project.

[Brass Works Theatre @brassworkstheat]

We are very grateful to @bbcwritersroom for getting the word out about our lockdown monologues project & enabling us to connect with so many talented writers, including @writtenbyhelen @LizLoweUK whose winning work can be seen here https://t.co/71FRj0oSlG #scripts #COVID19

[Brass Works Theatre @brassworkstheat]

We challenged writers in BA & BS postcode areas to mark the COVID-19 crisis with monologues that reflect these extraordinary times.
Thanks to @bbcwritersroom for connecting us to new writing talent in the South West, now the 2 winning films are online at https://t.co/71FRj0Gtde

[Brass Works Theatre @brassworkstheat]

Huge thanks to all the writers that submitted scripts for Lockdown Monologues, it was great to see how much talent resides in the South West. We'll be announcing the two selected writers soon & their scripts will be filmed & hosted on our website. So stay tuned! @bbcwritersroom

[Brass Works Theatre @brassworkstheat]

Thanks to @HeritageFundL_S we had the opportunity to pass on so many personal stories from #WW2 in our Twitter project @searchlights_sg All the Tweets, including an audio of Margaret's tale & the film of Roland's tale, will stay online as a learning resource. #NationalLottery25

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

We would like to thank the following people and organisations for their help in this project: @Southgloslibs @WarmleyWindmill @yateheritageYH @HeritageFundL_S @I_W_M, South Glos Second World War Stories, Margaret and Roland - and many more people for sharing their stories.

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

We listened to the King’s speech and the crowds outside celebrating the end of the war. Then Jack sat with me quietly in the parlour and we both cried. #Beth

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

Last night I woke from a nightmare, I was running for the shelters at work. The one’s where my friends were killed. Well, they’re already cutting workers at Filton, so I’m done with the place. I fancy summat different, like driving a bus. #Cliff

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

What now, after the fighting has ended? The Allies will follow up with their “Declaration on German Atrocities in Occupied Europe", and will be holding International trials for War Crimes at Nuremberg. #Wesley

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

Wednesday 15th August 1945 and the war is finally over. As King George VI says, “I ask you again at this solemn hour to remember all who have laid down their lives, and all who have endured the loss of those they love.” #Jack

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

Hostilities may be over, but now is the time to count the cost of this war. May this be the last time we have to face this terrible waste of life. #Eileen

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

Mum and dad wanted to stay in, but I’m off into Yate to celebrate Victory in Japan. I think they will need a great deal of time to mourn Kenneth before they can celebrate anything. #Iris

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

I told mum and dad that Charlie has asked me to visit his folks in Canada as soon as he is demobbed. This could be serious, a new start in a new land. #Mary

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

Cliff and I sat together listening to the wireless, while Carole played on the floor. There is to be peace at last, and not a moment too soon. #Dorothy

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

Brilliant fireworks were going off over Warmley tonight. It’s officially VJ Day, the Japanese have surrendered. It’s all over. #Michael #WW2

[Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire @searchlights_sg]

A second atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, surely they must see reason and surrender before more of this horrendous loss of life takes place on both sides. #Jack #WW2