Blog

Victoria on the BBC !

Victoria also spoke about Remarkable Journeys of the Second World War on a BBC History Extra podcast. To download, please click on link below (and follow instructions!) https://www.historyextra.com/period/second-world-war/personal-stories-podcast-victoria-panton-bacon-second-world-war/

Read more →

World War Two, to Music, Remembering the Battle of France in 1940, for the 75th Anniversary of VE Day

The Presentation below describes the Fall of France, in the summer of 1940, through the eyes of Air Commodore Alastair Panton DFC, OBE, CB; who was an RAF reconnaissance pilot at the time, during which France, and the Benelux countries, became occupied by Germany. The excerpts are taken from Alastair Panton's diary of this battle, which he called 'Six Weeks of Blenheim Summer.' The words are his, but they are spoken by Victoria Panton Bacon and the music was composed by William Drew-Batty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZpdVcwvdfk&t=10s https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/309/309187/six-weeks-of-blenheim-summer/9781405936743.html Read more →

Remarkable Journeys of the Second World War

I am delighted to report that my second book 'Remarkable Journeys of the Second World War' was published in September 2020 by the History Press. Containing eleven chapters of previously untold stories of the war years, this compilation of memories shines a bright light on the challenges of travelling through the war - and the impact their experiences had on their later years. There are Royal Air Force memories - including an account of the 'Long March' after release from a Prisoner of War camp, a very poignant Household Cavalry story about being sent into battle after defeat was predicted, a Holocaust memory, a Home Guard account, a Merchant Navy story, a recollection of working on the railw

Read more →

Report from Liberia

https://elizabethslegacyofhope.org/report-from-liberia-september-2019/ Looking towards the Equator, and across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States, Liberia is beautiful, vibrant country. It is bursting with potential prosperity; but sadly, for the moment, the vast majority of the population (some five million people) are locked in a cycle of poverty. The country is trapped by the difficulties of its recent past – two civil wars, and the horror of the Ebola epidemic between 2014 and 2015. Liberia has land borders with Guinea, the Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone; countries equally poor, but with pockets of wealth too that if were just exploited, in the best possible way, could turn th

Read more →

I know it isn’t Christmas

I know it isn't Christmas, but do enjoy this Christmas Carol - 'Today Our King is Born' - composed by me, Sarah, my twin sister, and a dear childhood friend Anna. The music has been arranged by William Drew-Batty; This is a recording of the Carol being performed at St Bride's Church, in Fleet Street, in December 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-NFYN7mXC8

Read more →

Victoria’s interview with RAFA (Royal Air Force Association)

I was invited by RAFA to take part in 'Project Entertain' - which is their wonderful on-line support programme for RAF veterans, families - all those who are part of the RAF community. I spoke about the music that my Grandfather's Battle of France memoir, Six Weeks of Blenheim Summer, has been set to - and how I feel so much this special music has developed the impact of the words, enabling Remembrance of this formative, but rather looked-over, battle - during which France fell into Nazi hands, and thousands died, lost their homes, and / or were fearfully injured. Below is the link, thank you ! https://youtu.be/4u8bUUDYuu0

Read more →