Pupil sparks VE Day exhibition

A SPECIAL VE Day exhibition is being held in Kidwelly – all sparked by a nine-year-old boy studying the Second World War at school.

When Thomas Gallagher told his grandfather Wayne John about his school project it sparked an idea which has snowballed over recent weeks.

Mr John, who is an avid collector of Second World War memorabilia is organising the big day on Friday after being inspired by Thomas, who goes to the town’s Ysgol Y Castell primary school.

Photos and artefacts from the historic day which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe will be on display at the Kidwelly’s Princes Gwenllian Centre.

A swing band will also perform throughout the day and refreshments will be served.

Mr John, who works as a postman and has collected the war memorabilia for more than two decades, said: “My grandson Thomas was doing the Second World War at school and so I thought it would be a great opportunity for him and other children and the community to see some of my collection as well as other memorabilia people might have had from the war and VE Day.”

He added: “I put an appeal out on Facebook for anyone else who had Second World War collections and it snowballed.”

Mr John said: “We have Carmarthen Model Club coming along too and a model tank and vehicles from the 1940s for people to look at.

“We have costumes from the period and are looking for people to wear them on the day and so anyone who can help can get in touch with me as it will be greatly appreciated if they can volunteer.”

“VE Day itself is on May 8 but we are already looking to hold another event next year and that would probably be on a weekend.”

The exhibition on Friday runs from 10am to 6pm.