Today marks the 81st anniversary of: ‘Victory in Europe Day’.
I spoke to my sister Shirley and she told me that on that day in 1945, Dad
was still in the Army in the South of France, and recalled attending a street
party in Bassein Park Road, around the corner from our home in Rylett Road,
with our Mum, brother Brian and Auntie Kath.
Someone was playing a piano in the street and she also remembers Mum having
her hair in a ‘Victory Roll’ style.
Later they all set off for Hammersmith to join the various events around the Town Hall
and King Street.
Audrey Jacobs (nee Dodd) lived with her family in Westville Road and wrote about her
memories on that momentous day in her highly recommended book, ‘The Way We Lived’.
Part of which follows:
‘Our street party began at five o’clock in the afternoon and lasted until the early hours
of the following morning.
The weather remained dry and the temperature, pleasantly warm. The children of the street
were unusually spruce, with most of the boys rather self-consciously sporting ties, while most
of the girls proudly flaunted their ‘best’ frocks.
I could not remember ever being to a party before and certainly not to a street party such as this.
Ever since I had been four years old, food rationing and shortages had been in existence and I was
amazed at the sight of tables laden with a variety and abundance of food and drink.
After a couple of hours most of the partygoers were extremely mellow and when Tommy Shepherds’
#voice boomed out from the stage microphone, that it was time for the entertainment to begin.’
However, hostilities continued in the Far East, and it was still another three months before the
whole country could celebrate ‘Victory over Japan Day’ on 15th August.