Report: Kate Hurst

Face coverings. School closures. Public spaces being disinfected regularly.

It sounds like the year 2020, doesn’t it? But perhaps we can take heart from the thought that those of our ancestors who were alive in 1918 would have recognised why we’re taking these precautions.

After a little bit of hunting through old newspaper archives, Ormskirk and District Family History Society discovered that West Lancashire was taking exactly these measures in an effort to combat what was then known as 'Spanish flu', or the 'Spanish lady', or the 'Naples soldier' (depending on where you lived in the world).

Some weeks ago, ODFHS put out an appeal on its FB page, asking for suggestions for topics for the virtual talks that they are broadcasting via YouTube, in place of face-to-face meetings.

Not only did one member of the Society suggest the Spanish flu, they even took the time and trouble to send a whole collection of material relating to Margaret Huyton (nee Marshall), of Scarisbrick, who died of the illness in early 1919, leaving a widower and a very small son to mourn her.

By combining Margaret’s story with newspaper extracts charting the outbreak in and around Ormskirk, and a host of facts and figures about medical facilities in the locality, Ormskirk and District Family History Society have been able to produce a brand new history talk, The 1918-19 Flu in the Ormskirk Area, which you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home.

You can find it at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q4J...ature=youtu.be