Millennium Project
Rob Forsyth
The village had big plans for the 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe on 8 May 2020, as can be seen from the poster (click for full size). But
all of this had to be postponed until VJ Day on 15 August. Instead, the
Royal British Legion encouraged all houses and shops to decorate their
windows red, white and blue and hang out flags and bunting. click on pic for larger image |  |
 | As dawn broke on a beautful morning it was clear the parish had taken this to heart. Flags and bunting had appeared everywhere (l) and we were all set to follow a plan for the day which was posted on Facebook (r) click on pics for larger images |
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11am Two Minute SilenceThis could not be observed at our War Memorial and so people observed it in their houses or at their front doors. Former Royal Navy |  |
3pm The Armistice was signedThe planned ceremony in the Market Place should have included a piper on the church tower, the National Anthem, Vicar Annie leading prayers for peace and one written especially for this occasion - Tribute to the Millions. Instead, Piper Richard Jasper had taken time out several days before hand - in the pouring rain - to
arrange for himself to be filmed (at social distance) at our War Memorial playing The Battle's O'er. His video - which you can view by clicking on his image - was widely downloaded on social media. Our four WWII Veterans should have been VIP guests. Instead, Deddington RBL arranged for each of the four ladies to be presented with a specially designed VE75 Commemoration Brooch in acknowledgement of their contribution to Victory in Europe 75 years ago. Each of them wore it on the day (below) and each had their own memories of VE Day itself. |
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| Daphne Canning WAAF | Margery Hawes | Edna Sewell WRNS | Stephanie Higham (WRNS) was indisposed |
4pm Tea parties... at which cream scones and sandwich cakefeatured prominently, were organised on Castle Street, the Daedings, Hempton Rd, the Paddocks,in the Tchure, at Clifton and in many back gardens |  |
| Keron Harris and Jeep were very 1945 |
| The staff of Featherton House were also determined to help everyone celebrate and did so in fine style by hosting their our own indoor street party complete with Union Flags, a 1940s sing-along and a big picnic.
click on pics for larger images |
6pm and through the evening
At 6 o'clock the whole nation raised their glasses in tribute to those who had contributed so much to achieving peace in Europe, remembered those who would never return and that the war continued for another three months in the Far East.
For the rest of the evening, the BBC brought back many old memories and then, after the Queen spoke to the nation at 9 o'clock, Vera Lynn's voice could be heard singing her famous, and all too appropriate song, 'We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when...' from open windows as we came to the end of a glorious 'red, white and blue' day.
Other links
VE Day 1945 Memories of those who were there
An album of all these images and many more can be found in the Gallery
The Banbury Guardian article about the Featherton House Tea Party