Dimbleby’s talk on book

It is sometimes difficult to believe that only 75 years ago Britain was not only facing the prospect of invasion, but was also under threat of real hunger from the blocking of the seaways.

This is the subject that Jonathan Dimbleby takes as his subject when he appears at the South Holland Centre in Spalding on Thursday, November 12 at 7.30pm.

He said: “The Battle of the Atlantic was crucial to the Allied victory. If the German U-boats had prevailed, the maritime artery across the Atlantic would have been severed.

“Mass hunger would have consumed Britain, and the Allied armies would have been prevented from joining in the invasion of Europe. There would have been no D-Day.”

His talk interweaves contemporary diaries and letters with a thrilling narrative and shows how the Battle of the Atlantic fitted in with the overall picture of the Second World War.

We hear stories and accounts from a wide range of the people involved, from senior members of the competing High Commands, to the ordinary sailors enduring both the horrors and camaraderie of crewing ships on extremely perilous seas.

This promises to be a fascinating evening of recent history including a question and answer session.

Jonathan will also sign books after the show, from a stall provided by Spalding bookshop, Bookmark.

Tickets are £15.50 (£14.50 concessions) from the Box Office on 01775 764777 or online at www.southhollandcentre.co.uk.