Hundreds of people turned up to visit a Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust exhibition to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Abbey Station’s role as Shrewsbury’s Air Raid Precautions HQ during World War 2.
The building was the centre for directing the Fire and Rescue services to any incident in Shrewsbury. Members of the public were treated to a display of memorabilia including original WW2 ARP cycles, mannequins and even a faithful replica of an unexploded bomb!
Local collector and WW2 enthusiast, Nick Holden assembled some of his artefacts, including motorcycles, bicycle, and an ARP Despatch Rider mannequin on his Royal Enfield. SRHT Director and Committee Member, David Morris planned the exhibition, and paid tribute to the people who came along in original pre-war vehicles, and brought their historic artefacts.
David Morris said: “We were fortunate to work with two distinguished Shropshire-based enthusiasts – Dave Adams and Nick Holden, and we re-created the atmosphere of the times with music, bunting, and memorabilia.
“The Exhibition was held in memory of the late Sue Holden, who had played a significant part in the original planning discussions and organisation. For some, it was a new experience and for others a ‘trip down memory lane’.
“It was a popular exhibition with hundreds of people enjoying a piece of nostalgia. Many Shropshire residents took the trouble to attend and recall their wartime memories of the County; the town, and the places where they lived and worked. These memories are being recorded by the Trust, and will be featured in their future newsletters and exhibitions. We are now looking forward to celebrating our 150th anniversary in September this year.”
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