A splendid occasion: Veterans describe how it felt to celebrate VE Day in 1945
As the world prepares to commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe, many are reflecting on their memories from VE Day.
Among those sharing their stories are veterans living at Royal Star & Garter care homes.
Their accounts of joyful relief and vivid memories help bring to life this significant moment in modern history.
Memories of VE Day
Amy, who celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this year, served in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) during the Second World War.
The veteran, who lives at the charity's Surbiton Home, signed up as a 17-year-old in 1942 and was a barrage balloon operator before becoming a plotter at a station near Hastings.
She was there on D-Day in 1944 and again for VE Day the following year.
She said: "I was stationed in Hastings and we went on a victory parade. I remember it distinctly, it was jolly good.
"But I thought about the people that had lost so much.
"I was there when we sent people across to Normandy [for the D-Day landings], so of course we thought about all the people who were no longer with us."
Bill joined the RAF in 1943, aged just 15 and was serving at RAF Halton in May 1945.
Now a resident at the charity's home in Solihull, he said: "It was fairly obvious we were getting close to [the Nazi surrender] the day before.
"That evening a group of WAAFs came up to our wing and there was dancing in the barracks' square.
"That was highly unusual because the barracks' square was holy ground that you didn't go on and we weren't supposed to associate with women.
"The following morning they announced we had the day off and we could do what we like.
"The joyous nature of that day is hard to describe; it was an absolutely splendid occasion.
"But I was just a young lad. I didn't dwell on what had been achieved or what had been lost. We had other thoughts."
For Richard, who lives at the High Wycombe home, the relief in the air was palpable.
He was just 12 at the time and went on to enjoy a long and distinguished career as a pilot in the RAF.
He said: "We were still at war with Japan, but as far as the war in Europe was concerned, it was exciting and interesting [that it was over].
"There were a lot of street parties – they had long tables and lots of people on all of them.
"I can remember it quite clearly; it was a great time actually.
"There was a tremendous amount of relief that war had finished."
For RAF veteran Michael, who also lives at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton, VE Day not only brought peace in Europe, but his father back from war.
Michael, who was aged seven at the time, explained: "He had been building runways on the Shetland Islands for some time.
"We saw him very occasionally… then one day he came back with a funny suit on.
"It was a demob suit, it didn't seem to fit him, but we were glad that he was back."
Despite being just six at the time, Pat, who went on to serve in the Women's Royal Army Corps, has vivid memories of VE Day.
She uses Royal Star & Garter's telephone friendship service and also comes to the Solihull home for day care and short breaks.
She said: "I was living in Bournemouth and we had a street party, I remember the flags and tables all the way down the streets.
"But only the children ate. I offered my mum some food but she refused it.
"I was too young to realise, but things must have been really tight.
"And I was also told daddy would be home soon.
"He'd joined the Army just after I was born and was in the Royal Artillery in North Africa."
British Army veteran Stan vividly remembers hearing the news about victory in Europe.
Only 13 at the time and living in Birmingham, Stan said: "We were in the swimming baths when someone came in and said 'the war's over'.
"We all ran out. We never even dried ourselves."
The next day Stan cut short his celebrations after feeling unwell.
He said: "In the afternoon I felt terrible, so... my dad fetched a doctor and I was taken to hospital – I had diphtheria.
"I was delirious for a few days and I spent 12 weeks in hospital so I only caught the first half-day of celebrations for VE Day."
Royal Star & Garter is welcoming new residents into its homes.
For more information on this, the other services it offers to the veteran community, or to work for the charity, go to www.starandgarter.org
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