Stoughton Now and Then

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Just over 60 years ago World War II ended and demobbed servicemen and women began to return home.  What did they find when they got back to the UK after up to 6 years away?  Most major cities had been subjected to air raids and were significantly damaged.  Rationing was in force and unemployment levels were high.  Only the market in second hand civilian clothing was booming.  Worst of all loved ones at home had become strangers.  Although Stoughton did not suffer any bomb damage, it was quite a different place in 1945.  Grange Park was not there; neither was there housing on Cumberland Avenue.  Cardwell's Keep and Queen Elizabeth Village were still M.O.D. property.  Traffic and parking were not a problem because most people could not afford one car let alone two.  Many homes only had outside toilets and gas lighting.  Telephones were a luxury and people generally listened to the radio because they did not have TV.  Washing machines, hoovers, fridges and dishwashers were unheard of.  Babies were usually born at home and you could leave school at 14.  However, even if such a life sounds as alien as Mars to those of us who live in an age of cable TV, mobiles and Internet, some landmarks remain more or less as they were in 1945 and long before that.  How reassuring that must have been to those who had seen the most terrible things first hand and had come back scarred mentally if not physically.  Although many had to get to know their nearest and dearest again,  at least some things were instantly familiar.  For those who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ it is a huge comfort, in a world which is constantly changing, that He never changes.  'Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever' [Hebrews ch. 13 v 8, The Bible].  Approximately 2000 years ago Jesus Christ, God's perfect Son, died on the cross to take the punishment for our wrongdoings.  Today He is alive and wants us to acknowledge that we have turned our backs on God and deserve His judgement.  When we sincerely admit this He will forgive us and we can look forward to being with Him forever in heaven.

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