Positive Ageing Event at the Northern Ireland War Memorial

Positive Ageing Event at the Northern Ireland War Memorial

1940s Cookery Class

The Northern Ireland War Memorial (NIWM) is an accredited museum in the Cathedral Quarter of Belfast. The Home Front exhibition is a ‘must see’ for those with an interest in Northern Ireland’s role in World War Two. The exhibition recalls the Belfast blitz of 1941, the role of the Home Guard, Civil Defence and the presence of US forces.

The NIWM offersan informal learning programme for adults visiting the museum in community groups e.g. local history groups, retirement folds, church groups, W.I. groups, PROBUS and Rotary Clubs. The museum also offers activities and informative talks in a groups meeting place as part of its NIWM’s outreach programme.

In October 2016 the museum took part in Positive Ageing Month by organising a 1940s Cookery workshop. The Positive Ageing Month initiative inspired the museum to design a session which was a little different to the usual informal learning and outreach session it offers to groups. Food rationing and shortages are still in living memory (food rationing continue until 1954), therefore this subject is often of interest to older people who enjoy reminiscing about their childhood and life as a young adult. The 1940s Cookery class offered a more fun, hand-on experience, encouraging participation and reminiscence. It was designed to engage as many senses as possible. The cookery demonstration was complemented by object handling, food tasting, listening to music, watching a film and trying on wartime hats. The session was developed bearing in mind Dementia training the museum had recently received from the Northern Ireland Museums Council.

What happened on the day?

The 1940s Cookery booked up quickly with residents from retirement homes, local folds and individuals with their carers.

The groups received a warm welcome and were seated to take part in the cookery sessions.

The object handling session involving unpacking and discussing a basket of rationed food and a ration book. Participants recalled with impressive accuracy the restrictive they experienced in their childhood (2 oz. sweets per week!). The old packaging and labels prompted some participants to share stories about their mothers cooking skills, inventive ways to make rations go further, and some very suspect dealings on the black market. Asobjects were passed around, the group spontaneously burst into song, singing “Run Rabbit Run” as they discussed the popularity of rabbits on dinner plates in the 1940s.

This led into a discussion about childhood toys, evacuation and clothing rationing, which was aided by another object handling session as we unpacked an evacuees suitcase, looking at an old toothbrush, old coins from a coin purse, and popular toys from the 1940s.

The cookery began as we set about making a carrot cake using a wartime recipe which considered the restrictions on certain foods at the time. Involvement from participants was encouraged who helped the museum staff to stay on track as they read from, the clipboards they had been given which outlined the method and ingredients required. Ingredients were weighed out by the ounce on an old balance scale. Where possible, participants and their carers were asked to stir the mixture and smell the ingredients, the worst being the dried egg powder.

When the recipe was completed, the museum staff presented a cake, wrapped in brown paper, which had been baked the night before to that exact recipe.

Participants were then given a chance to look around the museum before reconvening in the TV area of the gallery where they watched a short film on the Second World War while sampling the homemade cake with tea and coffee.

The Vera Lyn soundtrack allowed for more singing and more opportunities for discussion and object handling as the session went on.The cake went down incredibly well, there wasn’t a slice left!

Outcomes for those participating

We feel the photographs of the event really say it all as they capture the sense of fun we all experienced on the day. The willingness of the participants to take part in the activities created a great atmosphere. The participants didn’t seem to want to leave and on some occasions they led the session with their stories and song singing.

We asked participants to sig our visitor book. One participant left a lovely message outlining her memories of the Belfast Blitz. Another wrote “Lovely memories of living near Castle Archdale and all the American Airmen!”

Other participants said the programme has been excellent, that the cake was tasty, and that they really enjoyed the day. The 1940s Cookery Class was “very enjoyable and very reminiscent.”

Family members and carers commented, “Brilliant. It’s amazing how happy this had made my mum. She sounded like a kid that had been on a school trip. Memory lane works wonders!”

Residential home carerscommented, “Our residents had a wonderful trip to the Northern Ireland War Memorial for a 1940s cookery class. Thanks for putting this event on and taking our residents a walk down memory lane.”

Lessons learnt

As a museum we learnt that our informal learning sessions are adaptable and that with a little extra effort we can host a slightly different and perhaps more engaging workshop for groups. We identified objects in the collection which work well for object handling and we decided that small groups benefit more from this kind of activity. We enjoyed taking part in Positive Ageing Month and we are looking at how we could offer these sessions more often to local retirement homes and groups visiting the museum.