大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People`s War site by Alan Magson of Age Concern Bradford and District on behalf of James Frederick and Alice HALL, and has been added to the site with their permission. The authors fully understand the site`s terms and conditions.

When we planned our wedding for May 5th, 1945, at Habergham Parish Church, Burnley, we did not know that hostilities in Europe would cease that day.
After the wedding service and visiting the photographer`s studio we managed to have a nice meal and a wedding cake at the reception despite rationing.
We spent our honeymoon at St. Annes although we had originally intended to go to Keswick, but trains were few and far between and petrol was scarce and rationed so, as there happened to be a suitable train to St. Annes, there we went.
That evening we learned that the war in Europe had ended.
Church bells rang out, bells which had been silent during the war.
Hearing them then would have warned us that the Germans had invaded our land. Today it was a joyful peal.
Victory was celebrated on May 8th, V.E. Day.
We went to Blackpool and stood with the crowd to hear the Mayor give the proclamation of peace.
Back at our hotel residents gathered to hear Winston Churchill speaking on the wireless; no television then !
Joy was mixed with sadness because the war with Japan still continued and did not end until August the same year.
Therefore my husband and I have much to remember and celebrate this year of 2005.
V.E.Day, V.J. Day and our Diamond wedding along with our 3 children, 7 grandchildren plus spouses and partners and 5 great-grandchildren

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