We asked our volunteers for memories of VE Day and many were happy to share their remembrances with us. Here is just a selection…
June – London
With two big brothers in the army it was a great relief for my mother and father. Dad and Mum took my sister and me up to London. It was so exciting and everyone was so happy. We lived in Wembley in Middlesex in those days and caught the trolley bus from the High Street up to Edgware Road and walked to the Palace – I had done it a number of times but it was a good trot for little legs. We stood near the Albert Memorial and shouted along with the crowd which was very happy and large by that time for the King to appear. Then the whole family came out onto the balcony along with Churchill and the crowd went wild with joy. Of course [Princesses] Elizabeth and Margaret were young children as my sister and I were but we had seen them many times because the King always came to the cup final at Wembley in those days. We all sang and cheered. The atmosphere was wonderful and I have never forgotten it. After a long while when my legs were aching the crowd finally turned for home and I remember my father anxiously keeping hold of us to ensure we did not get separated in the rush. Then of course we had the long trek back to the Edgware Road near Marble Arch. I was so tired going home and we arrived in Wembley High Street at about 12 o’clock and had to walk from there. I had never ben out so late – often awake at that time because of the bombing but never out but all the shops had their windows lit and. I couldn’t believe how lovely it looked because I had no memory of shops lit in the evenings. It looked like a fairyland to a very tired little girl.
Carroll – Nottingham
I have a memory of the VE Day celebrations at my home in Nottingham in which about twelve families took part. Everyone tried to find something red, white or blue to wear and someone managed to find red tissue paper for tablecloths to cover the assortment of kitchen tables put out in the street while flags and bunting were unearthed from wherever they had been stored. Our house was at the intersection of a street and small close which gave a wide area for the “feast” to be held. Potted meat sandwiches were featured and stewed apple with cream saved from the top of the milk also appeared. Nothing that exotic but at least there was enough to go round. Someone provided a fruitcake – a bit light on the fruit but a real treat even if it was only a small taste. Dandelion and burdock and lemonade for the children, cups of tea and the odd bottle of beer for the grown-ups. There was some entertainment – mainly singing and gramophone music – and later in the evening, the bonfire. Potatoes baked in a bonfire were much more delicious than those cooked in an oven, even with the addition of the ash. We lived opposite a wood and although a lot of the timber had been appropriated for local hearths during the war, there was still enough to make a good enough blaze to melt the tar on the road, much to the annoyance of the local authority who had to cope with making good the roads all over Nottingham after the celebrations.
Dave – London
Muriel – Kent
I was 8 years old on VE day. I lived in a small village 5 miles from the Kent coast. We had had our share of war damage, as the enemy planes passed over us on their way home over the channel, releasing any leftover bombs and firing machine guns from the cockpit at any unsuspecting target (our butcher was a victim). I do not recall any public display on May 8th, although the village pub, the Gate Inn, probably did a good trade. However, I have clear memories of the celebration in the following days which was held in the primary school in the next village. All the partitions which normally divided juniors and infants were rolled back. Red white and blue bunting were hung in the playground and round the walls. Tables were laid with delicious sandwiches and cakes. All the local ladies from the 2 villages had raided their store cupboards for carefully saved extras. Mum had found a “patriotic” dress for me, white with red and blue design. Games were organised, the gramophone wound up and we all had a good time., This was my first experience of all the families in the 2 villages joined in a celebratory venue, without the fear that had clouded any “get togethers” in the previous 6 years. It stayed in my memory.