The Royal Voluntary Service, which brought together over a million women to support the home front in the Second World War, is celebrated in a new photography exhibition.
The Gift of Time exhibition in the Oxo Tower celebrates the charity’s 80th anniversary by showcasing historic images from 1938 to the modern day.
The charity, founded as the Women’s Voluntary Services, was seen as central to winning the war for its work organising air raid precautions and evacuating children.
The new exhibition will use images from their archive to illustrate the important role the volunteers played. UNESCO has recognised the collection as particularly important for women’s history.
Photographer Nicky Johnston also captured some of the 20,000 modern day Royal Voluntary Service volunteers in action.
Catherine Johnstone CBE, Royal Voluntary Service, Chief Executive, said: “Our wonderful volunteers do so many different roles, and Nicky’s images capture these and their spirit perfectly.”
The Gift of Time exhibition, will run from 31 October to 5 November at gallery@oxo on the Southbank.
