Archive

Author: Clara Bennett

Support Merlows

Help keep independent journalism alive.

Tees, commemorative coins, gift vouchers and supporter memberships. Every order goes straight back into fearless, on-the-ground reporting.

Shop & Support Us
BlitzSpirit 24 Sep 2026 Carry On4 min

London’s Underground Shelters: A History Remembered, A Future Prepared

Beneath the Surface, The Spirit Endures: Facing Disruption With Quiet Determination The Imperial War Museum in London has recently reopened its newly expanded and redesigned Blitz galleries, offering a poignant and immersive experience of life during the bombing raids of 1940-41. The exhibits focus not just on the destruction wrought upon the capital, but crucially, […]

Read Dispatch
BlitzSpirit 18 Aug 2026 Carry On4 min

Coastal Communities Braced for Another Winter of Storms and Flooding

As tides rise and warnings sound, a familiar fortitude is called upon. Coastal communities across the UK are bracing for what the Environment Agency is warning could be another exceptionally challenging winter of storms and flooding. Following a series of increasingly severe weather events in recent years – and with the backdrop of record rainfall […]

Read Dispatch
BlitzSpirit 13 Aug 2026 Carry On4 min

Empty Shelves, Full Hearts: Feeding Our Communities Now

Supporting local food banks embodies a spirit of shared responsibility. Reports this week highlight a stark reality: food bank usage across the UK is reaching record highs. Organisations like The Trussell Trust, which coordinates a nationwide network of food banks, are struggling to meet surging demand as families grapple with the relentless squeeze of rising […]

Read Dispatch
BlitzSpirit 8 Aug 2026 Carry On4 min

Volunteers Step Forward as Legion Faces Rising Demand

When Times Get Tough, Britain Turns to Those Who’ve Served – and Those Who Support Them. The Royal British Legion is appealing for volunteers across the country, reporting a significant surge in demand for its services. A report released this week details a 30% increase in requests for financial assistance, mental wellbeing support, and practical […]

Read Dispatch
BlitzSpirit 2 Aug 2026 Carry On4 min

A Simple Kindness: Checking In, Connecting Still

A modern call to neighbourliness echoes the quiet resilience of wartime Britain. The cost of living crisis continues to bite, and with winter fast approaching, a new campaign is urging Britons to reach out to isolated neighbours. Charities and community groups are reminding us that a simple phone call, a knock on the door, or […]

Read Dispatch
BlitzSpirit 28 Jul 2026 Carry On4 min

Threads Bare, Spirits High: The Return of ‘Make Do and Mend’

As Budgets Tighten, a Wartime Ethos of Resourcefulness Returns to British Homes The cost of living crisis continues to bite, and reports this week show a surge in interest around traditional skills previously consigned to history books. From online tutorials on darning socks and repairing furniture, to a boom in local workshops teaching everything from […]

Read Dispatch
BlitzSpirit 23 Jul 2026 Carry On4 min

Gardens Flourish as Cost of Living Bites: A New ‘Dig for Victory’

From Ration Books to Rising Prices, Self-Reliance Blooms Again Across Britain. Recent weeks have seen a burgeoning interest in allotments and home vegetable growing, with waiting lists for plots at record highs across many councils. Garden centres report a significant surge in sales of vegetable seeds and starter plants – particularly potatoes, beans and root […]

Read Dispatch
BlitzSpirit 18 Jul 2026 Carry On4 min

A Nation Refreshes its Resolve: First Aid Skills Rise After Recent Disruptions

From Air Raid Precautions to Modern Emergencies, Readiness Remains a Cornerstone Reports this week highlight a surge in public interest in first aid courses across the country. Driven, in part, by recent severe weather events – widespread flooding in several regions and ongoing disruption to emergency services due to staff shortages – citizens are increasingly […]

Read Dispatch
BlitzSpirit 13 Jul 2026 Carry On4 min

Voices Fade, Memories Remain: A Nation Urged to Record Wartime Tales

Keeping the Home Front Alive: Why preserving personal histories matters now more than ever. The call went out this week from Imperial War Museums and other heritage bodies: a renewed push to record the experiences of Britain’s dwindling number of Second World War veterans and civilians who lived through the Blitz and the long years […]

Read Dispatch
×
×
Install Merlows Add to your home screen for the full app experience.