VE Day Us West Looe girls danced freely tasting fresh new hope, ate sandwiches, drank port and lemon, chatted beneath a young May sun. The quay was full of shouting in a good way, as hearts soared, we flung our arms in the air, moved as a shoal of bespangled pilchards, scenting the day. Us West Looe girls were joyful, us West Looe girls felt relief, but as everyone danced, as everyone sang, feelings were bittersweet, it felt like tasting fruit cake left chewing on the pith, we were mindful of our mothers, quietly missing absent fathers and softly spoken brothers. Anna Chorlton
On the evening of the seventh of May 1945 the British public knew the war in Europe was about to end, a day of great celebrations was anticipated and the preparations began. The eighth of May was declared a one off public holiday. War in Europe had ended. Victory in Europe would mean a change to the suffering and restricted way of life war time Britain had come to know. It was hoped rations would come to an end as would news of loved ones deaths. Red, white and blue bunting was handed out ration free, the bakers donated bread and huge piles of sandwiches were made, every house contributed the little they had to the communal afternoon tea and the pubs were kept open well into the night. In London great crowds gathered for festivities in Trafalgar Square. My Grandma Pat was there and remembered dancing with her friends.
In Looe, Cornwall street parties were held on both sides of the river. On West Looe Quay they had a buffet and danced together through the streets. Looe is a Cornish fishing port where the rivers East and West Looe join. It is essentially two towns on either side of the river. The houses are built on steep hills leading up from the harbour. At a recent talk , ‘Memories of Looe Locals’ at The Old Sardine Heritage Centre in West Looe; men and women of Looe shared their memories of Twentieth Century Looe, including those of VE Day. The women spoke of their joy at the celebrations but also of the nagging feeling that not everyone was happy. Loved ones had lost their lives and some were yet to return from war. These memories inspired my poem VE Day .
Heart warming