Mid Norfolk Family History Society has published this selection from Dr Susan Palmer’s collection of oral history transcripts and reminiscences of Dereham and surrounding Norfolk villages in the early twentieth century. Many local families kindly allowed us to copy original family photographs, many never published previously, to illustrate stories of everyday life in Norfolk.

Memories were contributed about Etling Green, remembering a local stock car racing pioneer and Norfolk Fire Museum supplied much background and photographs for our tales of the retained firemen. WWI and WWII are remembered by many contributors and the effect which both of these international conflicts had on the area is covered with personal stories and many photographs.

The contributors will be remembered with great affection by many readers and their stories will bring back memories for some of the older residents of the area. Sadly, their names are too many to list here, but rest assured, they are all acknowledged in the book. Subjects covered include the Dereham and District Disabled Club, Women’s Suffrage, The Workhouse, The Zeppelin Raid, School Days, Shops, Pubs and just about everything else which had anything to do with everyday life in the early C20th.

Copies of the book are available from Glynn Burrows, 20 Rougholme Close, Gressenhall, Dereham, NR20 4DY; email chairman -at- mnfhs.org – and are priced at £15.00 (Plus £4.50 p&p.) Cheques made out to MNFHS please.