Communities celebrate 80th anniversary of VE Day

RESIDENTS across the Henley area celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE Day with snapshots of what life was like during the Second World War.

Three days of events took place in Henley to commemorate the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945.

Cars slowed down as spectators gathered outside the town hall on Thursday last week as more than 140 schoolchildren dressed in wartime clothing and assembled on the steps.

Year 6 pupils from schools in and around the town were invited to an Education Day organised by the town council.

Doing Their Bit, an educational group, gave a presentation to the children about what life was like for young people during the war.

They learnt about evacuation, rationing and the role of youth groups such as the Scouts, Brownies and Guides.

The children also took part in an air raid siren drill, hiding under their chairs when the siren sounded, under the direction of air warden Anthony Job.

After a short break, the children learnt about the role of the Home Guard from Sgt Mike Quigley, of the Red Line Home Guard Living History Group.

Sgt Quigley, the former detachment commander of the Henley Army Cadet Force, showed the children the uniform they would have worn and a rifle that would have been used at the time.

The education group brought along a number of vintage wartime items to show the children, including an antique radio, a teddy bear, a knitted swimming suit and old currency.

The children were also shown a butterfly bomb, also known as an SD2, a German anti-personnel bomblet.

The device gets its nickname because of its thin metal outer shell, which would open when dropped, resembling the wings of a butterfly.

These devices were responsible for the deaths of multiple children over the course of the war.

After the talk, the children enjoyed a fish and chip lunch before the VE Day proclamation was read out by town crier David Wilson, which was followed by a two-minute silence.

Bret Wiles, who runs Doing Their Bit with his wife Karen, said the children had shown great interest in the topic.

He said: “The behaviour was absolutely fantastic and I was bowled over by the questions. They were really well thought out, intelligent, interesting questions. We don't always get those, so that was fantastic. The effort that the kids have made dressing up is amazing, and the thanks must go to the parents for supporting that.”

Certificates for the best-dressed girl and the best-dressed boy were awarded to Finn Meredith and Hollie Rooke, both 11, from Sacred Heart School.

Finn said he was “quite shocked” to win. “I didn’t think I would get it. The clothes are from a Forties play we did at school.”

Hollie said she borrowed a cardigan and dress from her sister to make her outfit, along with her favourite belt and said she had enjoyed learning about the Brownies during the war.

Children were encouraged before the event to research their families’ experiences during the war.

Alex Wybrow, 11, who attends Rupert House School, brought along a ration book and identity cards belonging to his great grandfather and grandmother he had been given by his grandfather, Timothy. He also brought along a VE Day ribbon and cap badge belonging to his great grandfather.

Alex said: “My grandad was in the hospital on VE Day getting his tonsils removed. He could only eat soft food. So, he had ice cream for the first time.”

Zara Bhatti, 10, who attends the Abbey School in Reading, said she had found the day very “enjoyable and entertaining”. She said she had learnt a lot about the food in the period of rationing.

Nick Armitage, headteacher of Rupert House, said he had enjoyed the morning as much as the children.

He said: “The children have been so interested to learn more about the Second World War. It is so important they learn about the past and they’ve been fascinated with everything that they’ve been hearing.”

Ellie Shepard, teaching assistant at Badgemore Primary School in Hop Gardens, said the day had gone down well with her pupils. She said: “The children have loved their visit. They have been shocked by the air raid sirens and hidden underneath tables, they have laughed at woolly swimming costumes and underwear that their great-grandparents would have worn and they have really enjoyed their fish and chip supper in a celebratory VE Day style.”

At St Mary’s Preparatory School, pupils dressed up in wartime outfits as well as outfits in red, white and blue.

Wartime-themed cakes were served as students enjoyed a picnic lunch, which was followed by a “sing-song” of two classics – It’s a Long Way to Tipperary and We’ll Meet Again.

To start the day, the students joined The Great Big Live Assembly – an online assembly held with 200,000 children across the country on YouTube.

Headteacher Stephen Blundell said: “St Mary’s staff and children love dressing up, everyone gets stuck in and everyone gets into the spirit of things. VE Day 80 years is such a special occasion that we definitely need to mark it by celebrating in red, white and blue and having a picnic. We’re also going to have a sing-song after lunch.

“Those people that were there are becoming fewer and fewer, so the people that we hear about, the veterans, when these children are older, they won’t be around anymore.

“So, to give these children the memories of that and realise the importance, it is vital to keep these traditions going on.”

Nathaniel O’Hare and Harry Morris, both in Year 5, dressed up in RAF uniforms. Harry said: “I like planes and I like to pretend I’m flying them sometimes. That’s why I have so many military planes.

“My great grandad on my dad’s side of the family, he served in the Second World War and survived. We’ve been learning in class that there were no lights, no bonfires, no nothing on, so when the bomber planes came at night, they wouldn’t notice them, so everything was black so, at the end of the war, they had a gigantic bonfire.”

A choral evensong service was held at St Mary’s Church. The service began with an organ prelude of Nimrod, by Edward Elgar, played by Ben Giddens.

The congregation stood for the entrance of David Woodgate, Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, who was followed by standard-bearers and Father Jeremy Tayler.

The choir, conducted by Sebastian Thomson, the director of music at the church, then sang the Introit, Go Forth into the World in Peace, by John Rutter.

The congregation then stood to sing Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven, which was followed by the greeting and introduction.

Fr Jeremy said: “Dear friends, we have come together on this day to commemorate the anniversary of Victory in Europe. We come together conscious of our need for God’s forgiveness for the sin and the desire to dominate others that leads to conflict between people and war between nations.

“And as we remember the many soldiers, sailors and airmen who gave their lives restraining evil and opposing tyranny, so we also come in thanksgiving for those who continue to strive for peace on this continent.

“We gather joyfully today, as those who gathered on that first victory day, glad of each other’s company and grateful for the laughter and love that follows times of sadness and loss.”

The Lord’s Prayer was then said, and the priest and choir sang the opening responses. The choir then sang Psalm 46. The first lesson, Micah 4.1-4, was read by Richard Pinches, chairman of the Henley branch of the Royal British Legion. This was followed by the choir singing the Magnificat.

The second lesson, 2 Corinthians 5.17-21, was read by churchwarden Robin Hartley. The choir then sung the Nunc Dimittis, which was followed by the apostle’s creed said by everyone.

Fr Jeremy and the choir then sung prayers, before he sang three collects. Hymn Greater Love Hath No Man by John Ireland was then sung by the choir.

Further prayers were said then the everyone sung the hymn King of Glory, King of Peace before Fr Jeremy then said the blessing.

The National Anthem was then sung, the standard, choir and Fr Jeremy then left the church and the service was finished with an organ voluntary Crown Imperial by Sir William Walton.

In Benson the village the marked the anniversary with a Drumhead service. RAF Benson personnel, members of the Royal British Legion, and residents gathered to form a hollow square around the field altar.

The service was overseen Wing Commander Alice Tierney, station commander at RAF Benson, said “It was a great honour and privilege to celebrate VE 80 with our local community, who always offer such wonderful support to RAF Benson”.

The service was overseen by a celebration in Sunnyside, with music provided by swing band One Jump Ahead. The village beacon was lit at 9.30pm which brought an end to commemorations.

In Swyncombe, they held their Act of Remembrance for the anniversary at the war memorial in Cookley Green.

The service was supported by Tim Elworthy, president of the Royal British Legion Nettlebed, David Challis, chairman and David Mannering standard bearer.

A number of ceremonial beacons were lit to mark the anniversary and included one in Makins recreation ground in Greys Road, Henley, in Rotherfield Greys, opposite St Nicholas Church, and in Watlington.

The beacons were part of more than 1,000 lit up in towns and villages across the UK to mark the occasion.

In Henley, town crier Major David Wilson read out the VE Day proclamation to the crowd before the beacon was lit by town councillor David Eggleton and Mayor Rory Hunt.

The proclamation was written especially for the anniversary by the principal town crier, Jane Smith, from Bognor.

Major Wilson recited as follows: “Eighty years ago today, the United Kingdom and its allies from around the globe celebrated VE Day, the end of the war in Europe.

“Today, as we come together to commemorate what has come to be known as VE Day, our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and remembrance of those millions who gave up so much to achieve the freedom we all enjoy today.

“We remember those who lost, those who were wounded or starved. Those who lived were forever changed by war. Nobody was immune from the impact of that terrible conflict.

“Let us pause to remember their sacrifice. We reflect, too, upon the words of our late and glorious Queen Elizabeth. Never give up, never despair.

“And so we offer thanksgiving to the selflessness of those who gave so much in order that future generations should enjoy the blessings of freedom, democracy, and peace.”

The Ode of Remembrance was read out by Mr Pinches and the Last Post was played.

The Legion’s standard was lowered by Henley branch president John Green before a minute's silence was observed.

Cllr Eggleton, along with Paula Isaac, of the Gainsborough Residents Association, provided drinks and snacks for spectators and wartime music was played.

More than 30 residents of Rotherfield Greys gathered at The Maltsters Arms for a “wartime supper” before lighting a beacon outside St Nicholas Church.

The beacon was lit by John Hill, who lives in the village and built the beacon in 2000 at a workshop in Broad Platt.

The dinner was organised by Gillian Ovey, 82, of Hernes Estate. She said: “It was splendid, it was a remembrance of all wonderful people that fought to keep our freedom, especially the ones that didn’t survive the war and the veterans that are still around to tell us what it was like so we will never forget.”

Rev Hugh Balfour, associate priest at the Nettlebed and Greys benefice, led the diners in prayer. He said: “Heavenly father, we want to thank you for this symbol of the light of the world, and you bring light into the darkness of humanity.

“We want to pray lord, that in the darkness of our world today there will be peace as we give you thanks for the peace that came 80 years ago. And we pray for peace in our world today, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

David Fryer, 87, attended the supper with his wife Hilary, and John and Shirley Hill. He recounted memories of the war from where he grew up in Gosport.

He said: “I was in the height of activity, I was born and bred in Gosport where, of course, they concreted the beaches for all of the vehicles to go across for D-Day.

“I saw all that happening on my way home from school. My father was building the one-way gliders that went to France, sticking them all together in the aircraft factory in Portsmouth and he was in the Home Guard.

“He’d come home from the factory and go with his rifle to the cemetery, because they thought paratroopers from Germany could land in the cemetery.”

On Saturday, a Spitfire was displayed in Market Place. The display was organised by Mr Pinches, town councillor Gill Dodds and Philippa Ratcliffe, of Experience Henley.

The Mark IX spitfire is owned by Steve Heappey, from Derbyshire, who displays the machine at events around the country.

In addition to the spitfire there were RAF re-enactor crews, jeeps and military vehicles on display, with the 5th Battalion Oxfordshire Home Guard History Group.

There were Second World War exhibits and displays, guided walks, trips on a Dunkirk Little Ship, and talks at the River & Rowing Museum.

Former Mayor Rory Hunt said: “As we stand celebrating, we should remember we are only able to do so because of the sacrifice of those who have risked their lives in service of freedom.”

Mr Pinches said: “The spitfire looks fantastic. Even at 7.30am this morning the place was buzzing, it was heaving it is amazing to see so many people.

“The weather helps, so many people have put so much time and effort into this, Gill, Philippa and myself have been working on this for six months, and this is the last of the three days of events we have organised.

“It has far exceeded our expectations and the Spitfire is a very visual way of bring memories to the forefront of people’s minds, people read about it, see it on television.”

Matt Gleave, of the Red Line Home Guard Living History Group, was “guarding” the spitfire. He said: “It is fantastic that everyone has come out. An event like VE Day gives a chance for everyone to get involved and come to together in remembrance and keep the memory alive.”

Cllr Dodds, who gave a talk at the River & Rowing Museum, said: “The town was absolutely buzzing. It was just lovely and the kids loved that they could sit in the Land Rovers. It was a spectacular event.

Ms Ratcliffe said it is important to commemorate the anniversary of VE Day. She said: “It is incredibly important to mark this occasion to commemorate to respect all those who sacrificed themselves and everything that they did.

“It is about celebrating the fact the war ended and because of those sacrifices, that we have the freedom that we enjoy today and the freedom to do what we did over this week.”