VE Day memories that paint a vivid picture of events 80 years ago
- debbiethrower0
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
VE Day 1945 Memories
Elizabeth Bryson, said prayers at a special service for VE Day as the Anna Chaplain for Downham Market. She is based at St Edmund’s Church. Elizabeth goes into Downham Market Care Homes to lead Church Services and also visits housebound parishioners at home.
'I have been asking older people in Downham Market and members of my family' she says, about their memories of that exciting day 80 years ago when the Second World War ended in Europe with VE Day, Victory in Europe Day.'
'I think it is special today to hear the words and memories of those who can remember that amazing day:
My mother June was living in Caversham near Reading, then aged 13. She wrote in her diary on Monday 7th May: ‘Rumour of Victory. Announcement 9pm’. On Tuesday 8th May 1945 she writes: ‘went to church, saw flags, went to town 10pm saw dancing in Forbury and fireworks in Caversham Road. Home 11:15’. She remembers and talks about this saying: ‘We went to Forbury Gardens, the Abbey ruins, people gathered…’
Dave aged 9 remembers ‘there were lots of flags about’.
Four residents at one Downham Market Care Home have shared their memories. Doreen who lived in Methwold says: ‘We had a street party, we had fun with tables down the street’.
Patricia says: ‘We did have a street party with tables outside on the street.’
Audrey told us: ‘I was back from evacuation and we had a street party.
Norman who was aged 12 on VE Day 1945 says: ‘We had a street party at school. We made our own flags – drawing and painting - and then we waved them on VE day.’
Ann, then aged four, told me: ‘We had a street party at Wretton on the Playing Field. I remember the pyramid with pig nets – you had to climb up and over. I climbed up and couldn’t get down. I was up there a long time and was rescued by a Royal Marine who lived in the village after being invalided out. There was a table with food to help yourself. Everyone was ‘over the moon’.’ Ann and her brother stuck V.E. stickers all around the house!
My brother-in-law Norman aged five on VE day lived in Dorset at Langton Matravers. He says: ‘I can remember my parents and the school being all excited. We had a street party at the school with bunting up and tables in a long line on the playground because the village street was so narrow. We had jelly and blancmange to eat – I didn’t like the blancmange! We had a Maypole and the girls danced around the Maypole – the girls not the boys!’
Jess lived in a farm cottage because her Dad was a farm worker, a cow man, on the farm. She says: ‘In the evening we walked to the next village where they had a bonfire and fireworks!’ That must have been so special and amazing after nearly six years of black-out at night.
Jean was then aged nine, living in a rural area near Sheffield, and she remembers: ‘We had fireworks and a lovely bonfire. The bonfire was on our allotment. Everyone was very happy. Children were running around. Celebration at last!’
Doreen has a memory of sitting on her mum’s lap on the Number 47 bus in Luton seeing soldiers on tanks going towards Bedford. ‘Everyone was cheering and clapping’.
Lilian who is now 98, living in another Downham Market Care Home, was 18 on VE Day 1945. She says: ‘I was in the Navy then. I was an Officer’s Steward. I was at Greenwich near Tilbury. When it was Victory, I was on duty. All the ships that were on the river were hooting their sirens and horns. I met my husband the next week-end. He had just come back from serving in the Navy in the Mediterranean.’
'How wonderful that all these people can remember VE Day 1945, 80 years ago, when there were celebrations here and all across our country with rejoicing and thanksgiving to God that the War in Europe had finally ended. Everyone was so thankful on VE Day that peace had come to Europe.'
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