Apparently three out of four people in the UK enjoy looking at maps in their spare time. In fact going back to our roots and finding out about the history of our homes and where our ancestors lived is something that most of us all have in common, making a framed old map of a house or town an excellent Christmas gift idea.

The Second World War Experience Centre has launched a new charity search page to raise funds to collect and preserve personal experiences of the Second World War before they are lost forever.

A faded poster announces ‘Clothes Rationing in Britain’. It is the Rationing Year June 1943 to May 1944. No end to the war in sight, then. Illustrations follow, in faded black and white, showing items of clothing women might buy with their year’s allocation of 48 coupons. A suit for 18 coupons, a sweater for five, a blouse for four, a corset belt or a pair of ‘pantees’ for three. Brigitte Lechner gets artistic inspiration from an exhibition of life on the home front.

I am one of the old school. That is people born in the 1920s who attended their local Council School. In my case Grey Street School, Bootle, Liverpool. I suppose the sub title should be ‘The Soon To Be Defunct School’ as there can’t be many of us left now.

Remember the war?  Girlings Retirement Options Limited has launched a national competition inviting everyone who remembers the war years to submit their memories and help create a historical ‘time capsule’ to educate future generations.

Supermarkets have changed the way we shop – and they too have changed dramatically over the years. Post war Britain saw a transformation in the way people shopped for food: the corner shop with counter attendant was gradually replaced by the self-service store, which evolved into the supermarket.