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Institute of Tourists Guiding

MR 04676

The Thankful Villages of the Great War

The places where all the men came back

What is the story?

Some 16,000 communities in Britain sent troops to serve in WWI. Yet only about 50 places saw all their men return.

These are the Thankful Villages, and this is their story.

We look at this group of disparate places to discover the reasons and find out a bit more about some of them.

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Talk details:

Location:Length:
Village Hall or your meeting venue
45 to 60 minutes
Online via Zoom
45 to 60 minutes

What will I find out?

These days we find war memorials everywhere.

World War One, the Great War, impacted on all communities up and down the country.  Only a very few were able to welcome home all the men who had gone to fight.  These are the Thankful Villages.

How did those villages respond to their fortune, and what are they like today?

We visit the villages, as far apart as Cornwall and Northumberland, West Wales and Norfolk, and search out their stories.

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This talk is now being given online

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Qualifications and accreditations

  • Member of the Institute of Tourist Guiding
  • Member of the British Guild of Tourist Guides
  • Blue Badge Guide for South and South East England 2011
  • Blue Badge Guide for South West England 2014
  • Ambassador for the Great West Way
  • Member of Midsomer Tours
  • Guiding endorsement for Windsor and Eton
  • Member of Windsor Welcome Tourist Guides Association

Hilary Powley

The Friendship Club

We have enjoyed several of Graham’s talks and they have always been well presented, interesting and entertaining.

Alan Copeland

Whitchurch Camera Club

Graham is a regular visitor to our meetings and his talks are always very popular. He displays a great depth of knowledge of his subject, is very professional and informative in his delivery and his talks are illustrated with superb photography.

Mollie Dunning

Maidenhead Townswomen's Guild

We have had some very interesting talks from Graham. He really enjoys his subjects and passes his interest and knowledge on to his audiences. Our members certainly look forward to the meetings when Graham is giving a talk.

HF Holidays guest

Friendly and relaxed with a good sense of humour.

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