大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War site at Surrey History Centre on behalf of Mrs Dorothy Mitchell (nee Mills). It has been added to the site with the author's permission, and she fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

My brother and I always listened to the news. We used to hold our noses to emulate the 'posh' voice of the newscaster, and say: "This is the 大象传媒 Home Service. There is not much news for you today. Just to say the War is over and everyone can go home."

When the big day eventually came, we never heard the actual broadcast. On May 8th we were woken up by my father who said we need not go to school today as the War was over and WE HAD WON.

I was 9 years old, and very worried that if I stayed away from school I would get into trouble, but my father said he was staying away from work as well.

Later my mother took us into Norbury and we went into Woolworths and she bought me red, white and blue hair ribbons for my plaits. I was SO happy. The next day my father took us into Croydon. I remember standing outside the town hall in Katherine Street and hearing everyone sing "O God our help in ages past".

I was more interested in persuading my father to buy me a hat with "Kiss me Quick" on. I was unsuccessful, even though everyone else seemed to have one. Later that day many people were putting out flags from their upstairs windows. We didn't have one, but this time our father did listen to our persuasions. He went out and returned with yards of Union Jacks on string and festooned them up and down the whole front of the house. We were on the 133 bus route and we thought our house looked the best, though mum said they were too showy and was glad when they faded and we had to take them down.

Later, we were told the wonderful news that our school, Kensington Avenue Juniors, had been repaired and we no longer had to go to Norbury Manor as a temporary arrangement.

We were delighted to be told that the teachers were going to give us a party. We all had to take our own mugs and plates. The rumour was that we were going to have icecream. We didn't know what that was, but we wanted it all the more. We set up a chant, "We want ices and we're gonna have them." We were told off for our rude behaviour, and had to wait until much later to taste that delicacy.

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