We have another Bank Holiday coming up next week – the May Day Bank holiday weekend but things will be a bit different this year as the Bank Holiday will be coinciding with the celebrations for VE day which happens on Thursday 8th May.
To mark the occasion I was joined once again today by the chairman of the Rayleigh Town Museum, Mike Davies who visited us today to explain just what VE Day is all about.
To put it simply, Mike explained that the celebrations next week celebrate unconditional surrender of Germany’s armed forces, but as Mike pointed out it wasn’t actually the end of the war proper, as the last known shots were fired on the eastern Front on 11th May, with the war proper in Europe continuing until the Battle of Odžak on 25th May when the Yugoslav Parisans emerged victorious.
So although the war in Europe was over the war against Japan rumbled on until August 1945
This year is extra special as it marks the 80th Anniversary of the end of the second world war.
The announcement that the war in Europe had ended was broadcast late in the day on Monday 7 May, followed by a news flash announcing that there would be a public holiday, on the following to mark the occasion.
After almost 6 years of bombing raids, blackouts and rationing, you can imagine that almost everyone wanted to let themselves go.
Colourful bunting and flags appeared everywhere with bonfires being lit as people danced in the streets with pubs in full swing.
But of course, For those who had lost loved ones in the conflict, it was a time to reflect.
Amidst the street parties and rejoicing, many people mourned the death of a friend or relative, or worried about those who were still serving overseas.
For many of the widows the war had produced, the noise and jubilation as people celebrated VE Day was too much to bear and not something in which they felt able to take part.
There was also an air of anti-climax.
The hardships of the war years had taken their toll on many people and left them with little energy for rejoicing. In Britain, the strain of air raids, the strictures of wartime life and the impact of rationing all left their mark on a weary population who knew that with continued rationing, there were more difficulties to come.
Obviously London was the scene of probably the largest celebrations but celebrations were widespread and Mike explained that in Rayleigh, for example, following a series of meetings with a number of local organisations, it was decided to hold a victory parade in conjunction with a service on Sunday 11th May 1945 with the salute being taken by an Officer and any Rayleigh men who had been prisoners of War.
The church bells at Holy Trinity Church were pealed at 01.15, although quite why, this happened is not entirely clear, but the bells were rung again at 9am the following morning.
The official celebration took the form of a Punch and Judy show for the local children during the daytime.
In the evening, a loudspeaker discoursed music and song and led the community singing. In addition, a dance band played for open-air dancing.
A torchlight procession formed up at several points around town and marched to the High Street where a large bonfire had been lit (apparently scorching the tarmac).
Illuminated “V” signs, which were visible for miles around, were erected on the church tower by a local electrical firm named Mills and Smith.
A grand display of fireworks took place on Rayleigh Mount.
Celebrations were planned over 3 days with various groups holding dinners, dances, and events in the playing fields.
So coming up to date all of next week is being given over to mark this 80th year with loads of events taking place especially in London with military processions and aerial flypasts and everyone is encouraged to get together with street parties, in gardens, town halls, clubs and pubs
In addition Beacons are being let around the country.
At 21.15 on the day itself, the beacon in Rayleigh will be lit close to Bellingham Lane by the Mill Hall.
And the museum will be holding a special opening on Thursday 8th May between 1pm and 4pm featuring significant displays of Rayleigh during World War II including a children’s activity on how to make a “ punch and Judy model” (“That’s the way to do it”).
Many other towns in Essex will be matching the occasion so for example, Brentwood will be holding a Freedom march from Brentwood Town hall to King Georges Playing Field followed by a strawberry Fair on the 8th of June with a big top marquee, music and much more.
Brentwood will also be holding a street party on Sunday the 5th of June
Chelmsford For You has announced plans for a family-friendly event to mark the occasion, partnering with Chelmsford City Council and 12 other organisations to deliver a day of activities on May 5. It will explore Chelmsford’s rich World War II history.
Other planned events are planned in Dunmow, Colchester and Halstead on 5th May, In Braintree on 3rd May and 10th May, Waltham Abbey on 8th May, Cressing on 10th May and curiously Clacton on Sea on 11th October. Southend on 5th May.
No doubt more local information will be available in local press and social media.
One somewhat “spooky” issue came to light during our preparations for today’s chat, which revealed that at midnight on the eve of the outbreak of war in 1939, London was hit by a massive thunderstorm and as Britain and France delivered a joint ultimatum to Germany, thunderstorms continued to rage across the country.
But here’s the really “spooky” part, in the early hours of the morning of May 8th 1945, a heavy thunderstorm passed over London leaving blue skies in time for the festivities to begin!
If you missed it you can listen again here to my chat with Mike: –
In the second hour of today’s show we looked at a fact loosely connected with war time England.
During the war when strict rationing was “de rigueur” households had to make their coupons stretch, and so didn’t want a soap that would simply melt to nothing after a few uses.
Inspired by the scent of Russian leather – a once coveted export, Imperial Leather Soap was marketed for its durability.
A wartime advert read, “Imperial Leather Toilet Soap is one of the few luxuries still available to the discriminating. Supplies are obviously limited, but if only because Imperial Leather lasts longer and increases the purchasing power of your coupons, you should buy it wherever and whenever you can.”
Indeed the sturdy metallic label, which many have noticed does not budge, and plays an important role when it comes to keeping the bar intact, as it acts as a tiny built-in soap dish preventing mushiness or a ‘soggy bottom’.
The manufacturer continues to this day to claim, “That when the soap is used, the sticker will make and keep the top surface, where the sticker is on, concave.”
After use, the soap is supposed to be upside down. The concave surface will help water run out from the bar and minimise the touching surface on a soap tray.”
Well I never!
I very much hope that you’ll join me again once more tomorrow,
Scott
