After a successful run at The D-Day Story, the exhibition Fun, Fear and Familiarity – A child’s view of Second World War Portsmouth is relocating to Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery for an extended run.
The exhibition will open on Saturday 31 January and run until Sunday 14 June.
Alongside a longer run it will also feature more objects from the museum’s collection, an Anderson shelter and the outcomes from ‘Victory in 80 Objects’ community project.
Inspired by the ‘Victory in 80 Objects’ book, which was created to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day in 2025, the project worked with communities across the city.
The exhibition will bring together artwork, photographs, posters and an original song by those that took part.
The Victory in 80 Objects project would not have been possible without funding by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and awarded by Museum Development South West with thanks to support from Arts Council England.
‘Fun, Fear and Familiarity: A Child’s View of Second World War Portsmouth’ brings together filmed interviews, archive photographs, and objects from the museum’s collection to capture what life was like for young people during the conflict.
In May and September 2025, the museum team interviewed several people who lived in the city between 1939 and 1945. These interviews were filmed in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth’s School of Film, Media, and Creative Technologies and Portsmouth Libraries & Archive, ensuring these stories are preserved for future generations.
The interviewees grew up in areas across the city, including Farlington, Baffins, and Landport. Their memories include playing in bombed-out gardens, sheltering during air raids, and the excitement when the war finally ended.
The title ‘Fun, Fear and Familiarity’ comes from a quote by interviewee Bryan Fowles, who lived in Southsea. It reflects the children’s experiences; fear of wartime bombing, fun as many were unaware of the dangers, and familiarity as they adapted to life during the war.
Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council said: “This exhibition has really connected with people, giving a moving and often eye‑opening look at what life was like for Portsmouth’s children during the war. Bringing it to Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery means even more visitors can explore these stories, which are such an important part of who we are as a city.”
For more information, visit theddaystory.com.