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During the early years of the 2nd world war while staple diet foods were available to most people, especially those living on farms and countryside dwellers, this was not the case for town and city dwellers. As the war progressed so the food available for the british population as a whole reduced year on year. Many people suffered great hardship with many parents spending days in queues for whatever became available. It was not uncommon for families to consist of mother and father together with up to six or seven children and this increased the pressure for food. Hours spent queuing may only result in a small bag of sugar,a few potates,or a single orange. When some meat was available and cooked then all of the dripping was retained and spread on bread for protein and nurishment. Most families baked their own bread in the oven, flour in small quantities was available from corn merchants which existed in most towns and villages. However, as the war progressed and supplies of all food stocks reduced the government was forced to introduce food rationing. The farmers could not produce sufficient staple food for the countries consumption and convoys of supplies from the USA were being attacked and destroyed by german U boats. People were adept at preserving anything which was available or in season. Stews and preserves of fruit or jam became the main diet for many families. As the situation worsened the government introduced an initiative whereby anyone with access to any land, garden, lawn, and particularly allotments, which were very popular at that time, were encouraged to grow food for the family. This became very popular and these amature gardeners became lifesavers in some of the more desperate communities. They would hold competitions at harvest time to see who had grown the largest or heaviest root or vegetable crop, and the government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries further encouraged these efforts through their 'Grow more food campaign'. Certificates were given to the people who culivated land to provide additional food and these certificates were held in great esteem by the people who were not away fighting the war. It was their contribution to the war effort and one which was of great importance to the health and survival of the british people in time of need. Typical examples of these certificates will be shown at a later date.

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