On 7 May 1945, the Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe (victory over Japan was declared a few months later). This came after almost 6 years of conflict that had caused destruction to cities and families across the world.
The following day, 8 May, Prime Minister Winston Churchill addressed the nation and the day was declared a national holiday. Many people spent the day and night celebrating in the streets.
Betty Davies, St Albans residentI can remember it, and I can remember on Pathé news going to the cinema and watching the crowds outside Buckingham palace, that I can remember well.
And I can remember being told afterwards that Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret had been allowed to walk around and that made an enormous impression on me!
Celebrations were held across the UK and street parties like this one in St Albans were common, though rationing of food and clothing meant that the hardships of wartime continued even after the war ended.
Street party in Tavistock Avenue, St Albans on 8 May 1945
Doris Chapman, St Albans residentVE day, my first baby was born the day before. And a boy she went to school with afterwards was born on VE day and she lived near me, the mother. She said if it was a girl it was going to be Victoria but it was a boy and he was Victor and Jennifer went to school with him.
I supposed you were too busy then to join in the celebrations?
Oh, I was so disappointed! Mother came in and said they’d got a piano in Upper Culver Road, I lived on Culver road then. Oh what I missed! That was a shame, that was, I didn’t time that right did I?!
So can you remember any street parties or anything that other people went to?
Well there was a street party in the next one to ours, this was Culver road and this was Upper Culver Road, it was a block end so it was ideal and they had a street party there, that’s the only one I know did. Yeah, but I suppose I was all full of baby then, talking about babies. Sister Reagan did come in with paper hats for us and if anyone wanted a cigarette which was unthought of but, you know, because it was the VE day. I didn’t want one, I didn’t smoke then. It wasn’t the same though, I was quite envious of them.
