Interview with John S Farrow by Vicky Macdonald

Description

Short interview conducted by Vicky MaCdonald during the ‘Longest Yarn’ with visitors that shared personal memories and family stories in reaction to the exhibition. The Longest Yarn exhibition was a month-long tribute to the War Effort behind the D-Day Landings of 1944 - displaying a 3D tapestry depicting D-Day in 80 panels – was held at the Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno (October 2–27, 2024).

John Farrow shares his parents' World War II experiences. His father, a medical student, survived a close encounter with a V1 bomb and later served as an Army Medical Corps officer in Palestine. His mother joined the Wrens, working on code-breaking at Bletchley Park, where she operated decoding machines known as "bombes." Bound by the Official Secrets Act, she spoke little of her work, even decades later. After the war, she worked as a radiographer and later became a GP practice manager. In her 90s, she recognized a mock-up bombe at Bletchley, bringing back memories.