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I wrote of my upset over the fireworks on VJ day.

This has niggled for sixty years. Its publication has led to my reviewing the incident.

It was about 2002 I was walking along Millbank from The Tate Gallery. I called into Thames House and asked if it were possible to take a photo towards St Paul’s from that fifth floor window. I realised the internal layout must be totally different after sixty years but if the lifts have not been repositioned the window in question would be perhaps 30 or 50 paces south of a lift. The Receptionist/Security officer who laughingly suggested I go to St Paul’s and photograph Thames House instead did not countenance this request.
I mentioned that incident to explain I have not been to window ‘504’ for so long and can only guess for the ideas I now put forward.

I imagine the width of the window could accommodate six people shoulder to shoulder. One might consider that ‘a six person viewing width’; But that is for viewing across The Thames in the direction of Newington. The fireworks were to be in the Lambeth Bridge direction, which is ‘half-left’ from the window. On that same basis this would be perhaps ‘a four person viewing width’. With six people present there might be conflict.

Outside the window there is an architectural feature — a balcony with a heavy parapet — that feature might obstruct a depressed view to the bridge. I cannot remember this limitation, but if it be so this could have led to the four standing on the table and on Mr Austin’s chair at the right hand end of the window.

The four might have already arrived at a mutual accommodation - taking in the above ideas instinctively - when I walked in.

Perhaps ‘six’ came as a surprise to all of us!
Then I must have aggravated things by claiming it was my office and they were mistreating it. This had several effects: If I were there due to ‘proprietorship’ then I had no right in the face of ‘the ballot’. If the four had determined they had to stand on the furniture then my objection was upsetting to say the least, and it was a bewildering insult in view of the constraints that forced them to do so.
Add to that, six was just too many.

It is possible the last arrivals simply had to leave. Those were me and my companion.

It was a pity I withdrew in such bad grace… In a huff that would last sixty years!

I must now set aside any doubt and apologise to ‘the four’ and to ‘my companion’.
It is one thing to have a pleasant anticipation dashed; it is quite another to be unpleasant about it. If the Civil Servants who organised the allocation of window places got it wrong what other course was there but for it to be sorted out - but amicably!
I wonder did the organising Civil Servants visit ‘504’ after I left? Possibly not; How many windows were there!

It is important Civil Servants and Civic Servants do not to set Citizen against Citizen, and do all they can to avoid such a possibility; and ensure adequate and urgent redress if it ever occurs.

Is that the proper and worthwhile message from VJ day!

JOHN KNIBB

[This story was submitted to the People's War site by Wolverhampton Libraries on behalf of John Knibb and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions]

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