Liz Allan - Letters from the War Front

Thu, Sep 15th 2016 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Ms. Allan will tell the members about letters sent to her mother by her father who served in the 8th Army during WW2
H&R: Jane Allan and John Robson
VoT: John McGeary


The guest speaker at tonight's meeting of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw was Liz Macintyre Allan who spoke about her book, "Love Letters from a Desert Rat", which was published in 2008.

As Liz was growing up, her mother, Nan, had always told her family stories, so vividly and so well, that Nan could hold her audience.  Later, Nan’s grandchildren were also captivated by her tails of her life in Glasgow - the Empire Exhibition, the war years, tenement life and Alex, their grandfather.

Liz was principal teacher of English at Uddingston Grammar and it seemed natural for her to use stories from her life and background in her classroom and she found, to her great pleasure, that her classes also – from ages 11 to 16 – loved stories of these time.

Liz's mother Nan died in 1998 and, in the following years, the idea grew in her mind to make the life story of Alex and Nan her “project”. She wanted to write their story for her own family. Since so much of their story was from the Glasgow days of tenements and these no longer exist she wanted to capture, as best she could, that forever vanished world. While she had her memories and some brief notes to guide her, it was only “Mum’s book”.

Then she decided to do more than just mention the 300 wartime letters Alex had sent to Nan, which sat in her house in a shoebox, safe, but never read. When she actually sat down to read them for the first time, they immediately captured her heart.

It was a very powerful experience for Liz, as a middle aged Mum herself, to find this man, her Dad. Although Alex did not die until 1961, Liz had no memory of her early years with him and she had not truly missed him before, in the sense of “you don’t miss what you have never had”.  She believed she had a much more profound sense of loss after reading his words than she ever had in her later childhood years, growing up without him.

She began the immense task of reading and transcribing the letters on her computer for her family to enjoy. She worked slowly through the war years, in turn, her father working his way through the North African campaign, then up, through Sicily and Italy, to end in Germany. In 2007 Liz completed the story of Nan and Alex years apart, to “bring him home” to Nan.

She also knew that, during this time, her father’s words seemed to take on an immense significance in her own life. For Liz, completing his wartime story, has helped give her strength to move on to a new life. Of course, the story is not complete and Liz is currently writing “Nan’s Story”.

Liz displayed to the members her collection of photographs and a sample of the immaculately written letters her dad had sent from the cab of his lorry during his various campaigns.

The hushed attention of the members was testament to this evening’s wonderful presentation.

Andrew StevenContact Andrew Steven about this page:

(ALL fields required)

(If you are a Rotarian, please name your club.)

'What We Do' Main Pages:

Santa and Our Sleigh

On 15th and 22nd December, Santa, and some Rotarian helpers, toured Motherwell, then Wishaw, spreading Christmas Spirit and raising funds for various charities.

more  

Tablets, equipped with dementia friendly apps, are delivered to two nursing homes for the use of their residents

more  
Pres. James with the participants

Golf tournament, for the Douglas Clementson Trophy, participating teams being from our local secondary schools to be held at Colville Park Golf Course

more  
The participating pupils

An annual event for primary schools in the Larkhall area being held for the first time by the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw (previously run by Clyde Valley Rotary Club)

more  

The members of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw are delighted to welcome our newest recruit, David Crichton.

more  

When asked if we could help one of our local primary schools make and build a hut for their garden projects how could we refuse, and what a fantastic day we had doing it.

more  
(Rotary Youth Leadership Award)

As a Club, we sponsor the attendance of at least two young people on this fantastic award scheme

more  
End Polio Now

For more than 30 years, Rotary, and our partners, have been working to End Polio Now. We"™re this close to ending the disease forever. Join us!

more  

The members of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw are delighted to welcome another new member inducted online, David Grieve

more  
Well dedicated to Past President John Chapman

"˜WishWell" 2008 - 2015 What Have We Done?

more  

The members of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw are proud to recognise the outstanding service given by Past President Jim Robertson in his thirty-five years in our Club

more  

The Furniture for Families Project provides furniture and household items to families in need within our service areas - Motherwell, Wishaw, Bellshill and Larkhall.

more  
The finished article

Rising to Pres. Jane's challenge, a sleigh is built for Santa's tours of Motherwell and Wishaw

more  
Jean Murray, our newest member

The members of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw are delighted to welcome our second new member inducted online, Jean Murray.

more  
Picture L-R: F Dickson, N Hamilton, Pres. Jane Allan, A Tweedie, C Graham & O Chambers

Picture L-R: F Dickson, N Hamilton, Pres. Jane Allan, A Tweedie, C Graham & O Chambers

more  

The members of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw are proud to support the Rotary Club of Chelmer Bridge, in the 2019 Rotary Poppy Pin Appeal to raise funds for the Royal British Legion, including Poppy Scotland

more  
Interact Logo

Working with the Head Teacher and staff of Coltness High School, the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw has agreed to sponsor an Interact Club

more  

For the second year, the members of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw welcome our new President, Charles Keeper, online!!

more  

The Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw recognises the importance of building and maintaining close links with the youth of today, through the schools and youth organisations in our community

more  

The members of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw welcome President Katrina in unusual circumstances!!

more  

For a Registration Fee, members of the Club will support cyclists, riding to raise funds for named charities.

more