I’m a qualified Tour Guide and a member of Tour Guides NI.
I have always had an interest in the Second World War. This came from stories from my late mother, who was a young girl in Occupied Eindhoven, The Netherlands, during the war.
At school, I studied the events leading up to the outbreak of the Second World War, and the momentous events around the world between 1939 and 1945.
What I didn’t fully appreciate, until recently, is that my home town of Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland has a huge wartime heritage. Even though I have lived here for over half a century, I was unaware of how the town, and its people, had adapted to wartime conditions.
Civilian life changed significantly, factories switched focus to manufacture goods required for the war effort, and military personnel from all parts of Britain, the United States of America, and Belgium called this place “home” for a period.
It was while doing some research on my late father’s family, that I realised (doh!) that his formative teenage years in Carrickfergus coincided with the Second World War. I had never asked him about that time while he was alive, so it was a genuine surprise to discover about tanks, parachutes, GIs, and the rest.
The idea of a Guided Walking Tour came out of that discovery. I think it is a fascinating time in history, still within living memory, but largely overlooked.
I hope that by joining me on my tour, you will get a better appreciation and understanding of what it was like here during the war – I guarantee you will find a few surprises! It may also trigger an interest in finding out more about your own family stories from the Second World War.
In the Media
Here are a few articles which have appeared in the local media. They give you an overview of my Guided Walking Tour, and who I am.
My Weekend (Belfast Telegraph)
New walking tours to explore rich and varied World War II history of Carrickfergus (Irish News)
Episode 09: The U.S. Rangers lead the way with Adrian Hack (PODCAST – Wartime NI)