Guest post by local historian Philip Grant
A scene from the opening ceremony at Wembley Stadium, 29 July 1948.
(Image from the internet)
This month sees the 75th anniversaries of the opening of Olympic Way, and the opening ceremony of the 1948 Olympic Games at Wembley, which the new route to the stadium was built for. As part of celebrating this important time from Wembley’s history, I will be giving an illustrated talk on Friday 21 July, which anyone is welcome to attend (although there will be a small charge if you are not a member of Wembley History Society).
As well as the story of the Games themselves, the talk will look at some of the local issues. This was a time of post-war austerity - where would the athletes and visitors stay, would there be enough food for everyone, as there was strict rationing, and how much should Wembley Borough Council spend on decorating the Town Hall and local streets for the event?
The Town Hall in Forty Lane with its 1948 Olympics decorations. (Image from Brent Archives)
The talk is taking place at St Andrew’s Church Hall, Church Lane, Kingsbury at 7.30pm on Friday 21 July (see poster for location and nearest bus routes). I hope you will be able to come along, if the subject is of interest to you.
If you can’t manage it on 21 July, and you are available during the day, I will be presenting the talk again at a free Brent Libraries “coffee morning” event at Ealing Road Library, on Tuesday 3 October from 11am to 12noon. [Why that Library? Well, there is a local link to the 1948 Olympics!]. The event is not on the Brent Culture Service Eventbrite page yet, so please make a note in your diary, to reserve your place nearer the time.
Philip Grant.
