Julie kindly signed a number of her novels on sale that evening.

Julie and Members were shocked and saddened by this news but she remains optimistic that it will continue with another broadcaster a view hugely supported by us all that evening….we all need to know what happens next!!

A few days prior to her visit to Farndon WI she had however heard that the third series of Home Fires was being axed by ITV. Julie was enthusiastic and engaging as she described the characters and locations used in the filming of the series and the preparations and scripts for a third series. The subsequent journey in taking a non fiction book to the successful series of Home Fires she conveyed as exciting and thrilling and she admitted she had a tear in her eye when she visited Cheshire for her first set visit and described her cameo role in the series dressed in a two piece blue tweed suit.

In writing her novel Jambusters, Julie described to us how she had ‘to dig deep to find the heart of the Wartime WI and their Members who kept the countryside ticking over’. It was also a great opportunity to welcome WI Members from a number of other local WI’s who joined us for the evening and we enjoyed in traditional WI style a great range of home made cakes and refreshments. Her book 'Jambusters' was the inspiration for ITV’s hit drama series 'Home Fires', which ran for two seasons in 2015–16.A great open WI evening event was held last Thursday May 19th with our Guest Speaker, Julie Summers. Her books include: 'The Colonel of Tamarkan', a biography of her grandfather, who built the ‘real’ bridge on the River Kwai 'Stranger in the House', a social history of servicemen reuniting with their families after the Second World War and 'When the Children Came Home', which tells the story of returning evacuees. Julie Summers is a bestselling author and historian. In this insightful talk, Julie Summers will highlight key moments in the charity’s history, revealing how the organisation has changed over the years, and how it has adapted to help those who need it most. In the hands of women, of wives and mothers, and I will even dare to say of sisters, daughters and spinster aunts, the health and happiness of mankind very largely is laid. For 100 years, they have worked to support the lives of service personnel and their loved ones, be that through advice, rehabilitation or advocacy. The Royal British Legion is one of the UK’s leading military charities. Join author and historian Julie Summers as she explores the intriguing history of the Royal British Legion.

Jambusters book