Goodbye Shirley: The Wartime Letters of an Oxford Schoolboy 1939 – 1947

Following on from his 2014 work Mr Brownrigg’s Boys, which chronicled the school’s history prior to and during the First World War, David Bebbington has once again delved into MCS’s wartime past.

Goodbye Shirley: The Wartime Letters of an Oxford Schoolboy 1939-1947, narrated and edited by Dr Bebbington, collates the writings and memories of Shirley Michael Hickey (OW 1947), whose letters home give an unprecedented look into the experiences of a pupil educated against the turbulent backdrop of global warfare.

As the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings draws ever closer, the necessity for remembrance, and for the commemoration of those who endured one of history’s most tragic events, is brought once again to the forefront of the public’s attention. Michael’s story, itself bearing great emotional resonance, could not be more pertinent.

To read Dr Bebbington’s recounting of his meeting with Michael and the resultant writing process of Goodbye Shirley, click here.

To purchase the work, click here.