It is not every day that you step into a room and feel history breathe around you. At Lowewood Museum this summer, you can. The newly opened exhibition, Broxbourne at War: Life in the Borough 1939–1945, is far more than a collection of photographs, uniforms, and wartime artefacts. It is the story of our borough, our streets, our homes, and our people during one of the most challenging periods in modern history.

This is an exhibition built with heart, dedication, and a deep respect for the lives lived here in Broxbourne during the Second World War. It is a project that, in every sense, belongs to the community and one that invites every resident, young or old, to see, listen, and reflect.

When the war broke out in 1939, everyday life in what is now the Borough of Broxbourne was upended almost overnight. Food became scarce. Families were separated. Sirens wailed in the dark, warning of enemy bombers overhead. Many men left to fight, never to return, while women took on roles they had never imagined. Children carried gas masks to school. And yet, in the face of fear and uncertainty, the community pulled together.

This same spirit of community has shaped the Broxbourne at War exhibition. While the topic is weighty, even sombre, the way it has been brought to life is uplifting because it shows what can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose.

The research, the writing, the careful curation of each display board were not the work of a large, well-funded institution, but of a small, passionate team. Only three members of staff, Community Engagement Officer Tony Catarinicchia, Project Manager Naomi, and Curator Peter, are paid employees. The rest of the work was carried out by volunteers, nine “community curators” who each chose a topic, delved deep into archives, interviewed locals, and pieced together stories that deserve to be remembered.

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One of the exhibition’s most moving features is Community Voices, a collection of real wartime memories preserved in the museum’s archives. Ten audio recordings, drawn from the museum’s oral history collection, allow you to hear directly from those who lived through the war. The voices are unpolished, unscripted, and profoundly human.

You can hear an elderly resident recall huddling in an air-raid shelter, a young evacuee describing the strange new life they found in the countryside, or a worker in the local defence service explaining their role in keeping the borough safe. The recordings, also available in written transcripts, remind us that history is not just something written in books; it is lived, felt, and remembered by real people.

Unlike some war exhibitions, Broxbourne at War does not focus on battles fought overseas. Instead, it looks at how the conflict reshaped life here at home. The displays cover topics such as:

It is a sobering reminder that war is not just about soldiers and generals, it is about ordinary people doing extraordinary things in extraordinary times.

The exhibition is open until 20th December, but several special events this summer will bring history vividly to life.

On Wednesday 13th August, a group of wartime re-enactors will set up at the museum. Visitors can see a bomb disposal demonstration showing how unexploded bombs were made safe, inspect authentic military vehicles, and even try on vintage Air Force uniforms. It is a rare opportunity for children (and adults) to experience history with all their senses.

Later in the year, around Remembrance Sunday, the museum will host a commemorative event honouring local men who never returned from the war. Talks and additional activities will follow, with details to be announced in the coming months.

We live in a time when the Second World War can feel distant, a topic for history books, films, and television dramas. But the truth is, its impact is still with us. The freedoms we take for granted were hard won. The quiet streets we live on today once echoed with the sounds of air raid sirens, military drills, and anxious whispers in the dark.

Visiting Broxbourne at War is not just about learning facts, it is about connecting to the lives and choices of people who once stood where we stand now. It is about remembering that they endured so that we could live as we do.

And perhaps most importantly, it is about seeing the best of our community, both then and now. Just as Broxbourne’s residents in the 1940s pulled together to face hardship, so too have our volunteers, curators, and supporters come together to create something meaningful for us all.

Lowewood Museum is open on Fridays and Saturdays, and the team would love to open more often, but to do that, they need more hands. Volunteering at the museum is not just about standing behind a desk. There are opportunities in research, collections work, event support, photography, social media, and more. Volunteers range from recent retirees with professional expertise to students looking to gain experience in heritage work. There is no fixed time commitment, just a willingness to help.

As Tony Catarinicchia puts it: “Once you become a volunteer, you don’t have to commit yourself to any set times. There are many roles you can do, from working front of house to doing research for our projects.”

If you can spare a few hours and want to contribute to something lasting, Lowewood Museum would be a wonderful place to start.

War is never a cheerful subject, but remembering it is an act of respect, not only for those who lived through it, but for ourselves as a community. The Broxbourne at War exhibition is our story, told by our people, for our people. It is a reminder of hardship, resilience, and hope. And it is here for us now, this summer, waiting to be explored.

So, whether you are a lifelong resident, new to the borough, or simply curious about the lives behind the history, make the time to visit Lowewood Museum. Bring your children. Bring your parents. Listen to the voices. Read the stories. See the faces.

Because the past only lives if we keep telling it, and this is one story that deserves to be told.

The full interview is now available in the Voices of Our Towns Podcast. Go and Listen to it now.

Lowewood Museum
High Street, Hoddesdon
Open Fridays & Saturdays
More info: lowewoodmuseum.org.uk

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Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya

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