VE Day Talk with Veterans and Music

About This Event

VE Day Talk with Veterans and Music

A rare opportunity to meet two exceptional Second World War Veterans, Christian Lamb (Women’s Royal Naval Service-Plotting Officer) and Patricia Owtram (Women’s Royal naval service Interceptor for Bletchley Park).

Christian Lamb, 104, is one of the last surviving planners of D-Day. She had painstakingly created detailed maps of the Normandy beaches from her basement office in Whitehall, maps used to guide the crews of the landing craft that ferried the soldiers to the Normandy beaches. Having already played a pivotal role in the Battle of the Atlantic as plotting officer when she had agonising experience of overseeing convoy ONS5 in her operations room – just as a U-boat wolf pack surrounded her fiancé’s Destroyer.

Patricia Owtram, 101 is one of the last veterans of the ‘Secret War’, a Service Special Duties Interceptor whose knowledge of German played a pivotal role in obtaining crucial Enigma code for Bletchley Park and the Admiralty.

Pat reflects on the secrecy of the ‘Y’ Service (wireless interception) and the impact of the war on her family including not knowing that her sister Jean was serving with the Special Operations executive (S.O.E). At the same time, their father was a prisoner of war on the River Kwai. By late 1944 Patricia served with Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force in London where she was tasked with reading and translating official documents from Germany to detect line crossing agents

Both remarkable women were awarded Frances highest order of merit, the Légion d’honneur in recognition of their pivotal role in work supporting D Day.

They are in conversation with Simon Robinson who will compere while also reflecting on his friendship with these and other remarkable Second World War veterans through the years including his late grandmother, Hilda and her poignant VE day.

Pat and Christian have generously offered to share memories and excerpts from letters and diaries

They are joined our 2020 Singers Prize winner, soprano Siân Dicker who will sing songs of the era from Ivor Novello, Eric Coates and Eric Maschwitz.

Siân Dicker is in demand for her rich, full-bodied voice and dramatic flair. Known for her expressive characterisation and genuine connection with audiences, Siân performs regularly on both the recital and opera stage.

ROSL Members £20| General Admission £26

Includes a glass of wine after the talk