VE DAY 80 CELEBRATED AROUND THE DALE
DALEFOLK celebrated the 80 th anniversary of VE Day around the Dale and beyond this last week.
There were church services, beacons and bonfires as well as musical events and parties with
schoolchildren joining in too with their own events in both primary schools and at Wolsingham
School.
At Wolsingham, the website was full of photographs showing what a wonderful time both pupils
and guests had during their celebrations.
‘We’ve had a wonderful day in school celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day. We had an old-
fashioned sweet sale and traditional playground games. In the afternoon we were joined by
members of our local community for afternoon tea in the library prepared by our wonderful catering
team with music from our school orchestra.
‘Our Combined Cadet Force performed a drill and were dismissed by one of our special guests;
veteran William Buddle aged 102 who joined the army in 1942. A huge thank you to everyone who
joined us today.’
Care homes joined in too with some of the older folk recalling their memories of that day when
the guns fell silent all over Europe. Of course, the war continued in South East Asia and in August,
there may be celebrations on VJ Day (Victory in Japan -) in August when World War Two really DID
end.
Many folk held their own celebrations at home too. One of those was Laura Langstaff-Wood from
Wayside Farm, Witton-le-Wear who had a bonfire party at home.
She said, “Eighty years ago my Grandad threw a huge party here for VE day; he flood lit the place
and had a huge bonfire, I’m told my poor dad spent the night inside the house, in tears, because he
was petrified – the black out blinds weren’t up and there was so many lights on!
“Dad was born in 1938 and had never known anything other than war time Britain. I wish he and
his sister – my aunt – Sheila Tock, had been here with us to mark this special day.”
The people of the friendly hill-top town of Tow Law celebrated as they always do in their own
special way and the town also lit a beacon on the Millennium Green. Many of the primary schools
asked the children to dress up and they held outdoor picnic ‘street’ parties’ on the school fields.
One teacher said, “It is important that the children understand what their grandparents and great-
grandparents went through to secure their freedom today. It’s also a bit of fun and they have
thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Probably the most enduring memory of VE 80 happened during a weekend of celebrations in
Cowshill when some villagers dressed up in inflatable aeroplanes and ran down the street to the
theme of the Dambusters with flares. Weardale’s own special ‘fly-past’.
The national celebrations were held in London with a week-long programme of events, including
a military procession, a service in Westminster Abbey, garden parties and a spectacular concert in
Horse Guards Parade. People travelled from around the country to witness the celebrations.
One of those was Gazette Editor, Anita Atkinson. She said, “Security was tight and the crowds
were kept away from the centre of the action but the atmosphere in the capital was electric.
“I was at the Cenotaph for the two minutes silence and it was poignant. I was with a Yorkshire-
born lady who now lives in Surrey. Maureen is 88 years old and gave her memories of VE Day as a
little girl.
“It was very moving and often quite funny in equal measures.”
And so for probably the last time, the declining number of veterans have enjoyed their final big
celebration of VE Day and King and country saluted them in style.
