“On Saturday 20th May, 17 members of the FU3A J1 Discovering Wessex group went on the last visit of this academic year to Tyneham. The weather was brilliant with clear blue skies giving wonderful views over the surrounding countryside and down to the sea, from the viewpoint above the village. Kaye Weeks and Pam Strong were our topic leaders for the day, following their really interesting presentation the previous week. This lost village and the surrounding areas were commandeered by the army back in 1943 to be used as a military firing rang. The residents were given very short notice to leave before the area was taken over and have never been allowed back. So it has remained as a time capsule with visitors able to explore, at certain times, the ruined buildings, school and church, reading all about it from the mass of information boards all around the village. Our members enjoyed learning about life there in pre-WW2 days – a time very different from the faster pace of life today. After the visit most members dispersed to take lunch at some nearby hostelries.
