- Contributed by听
- ActionBristol
- People in story:听
- Mary Mitchell (then Mary Derrick)
- Location of story:听
- Central Bristol
- Background to story:听
- Civilian
- Article ID:听
- A4020814
- Contributed on:听
- 07 May 2005
Diary Entries: (age 20 at the time working at the Education Dept. Clifton, Bristol)
May 7: Terific excitement, rumours of V E Day, shampooed my hair, went to bed at 12.
May 8: V E day at last. Went up to Grace's at Redland at 11 o'clock. Down to centre, climbed up Cabot Tower. To Corn St, saw Lord Major at centre. Back to Grace's for tea. Up to Downs marquee. Back to Grace's. Walked from Redland to Centre. Hundreds of people. Left Centre at about 12. Walked home. Bed at 3 am.
May 9: Celebrations continued. Went to the news theatre. Up to Berni's (restaurant) for ice cream (this was a real treat). Down to the Centre. Christmas steps. Horsefair. Odeon. Centre. Danced round a policeman and tipped his helmet off (that was very daring in those days). Everyone was marching round and round. There were lights and joy and excitement. Tickertape (from the printing machines) was showering down from the Evening World Building on the Centre (I still have two pieces of this Tickertape). Shall never forget the day.
End of diary entry.
It was just complete joy. There was no vandalism, everyone was so happy. It was amazing how much we did in one day.
War is a dreadful thing and I hope it never happens again.
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