Continuing on from our article last week, below is the essay that Alice Thompson wrote on 14 May 1945.
It is titled ‘How I Celebrated VE Day’:
‘On Monday May 7th it was announced that the next day, May 8th would be V.E. Day. I was terribly excited and so was everyone, I think.
‘The next day, V.E. day, I went to school as usual at 9 a.m. At about 9.15 a.m. we had a short service. Then, until play time, we had needle work. After a long break we were dismissed. Some girls stayed for dinner, others went home. I, with the rest of the school, marched up to the village square at 1.30 p.m. and there sang a variety of songs for half an hour.
‘Mr Churchill spoke at 3p.m. It was a very interesting speech which I enjoyed. That night I stayed at home as I had a cold and was rather flushed, so I did not see either the bonfire or the dancing. At 9p.m. the King spoke. I listened also to him.’
In 1945, Alice was living with her grandfather, Thomas Ellwood and aunt Alice Ellwood at 4 Owen Street, Dean Bank, possibly with her sister, perhaps as unofficial evacuees.
Thanks again to Linda Geldart from the Ferryhill History Society for sharing Alice’s essay with us.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
