大象传媒

Note: This story has been entered by a volunteer on behalf of Delphine Higgs. The author has seen and agreed to the People's War House Rules.

Early 1944 was memorable for the long convoys of American Army trucks moving around the country nose to tail. There was no question of them stopping, so we just had to wait for them to pass before we could cross the road. Walking home from work one evening I waited nearly half an hour outside of the church at the end of Bedminster Parade for one convoy to pass, it came over Bedminster Bridge and turned into Coronation Road. We didn鈥檛 really mind as all this military help would bring the end of the war closer.

D-Day came and we were all glued to our wireless sets and our thoughts and prayers were with the troops. Things seemed to be steadily progressing well and then came Arnhem. At first the pictures of all those paratroops landing filled our hearts with pride and joy, but our heads were soon bowed and our eyes full of tears But this is war. Eventually we were in Berlin and Hitler dead. IT WAS ALL OVER. A generation of young men had gone, we can only ponder on the infinite rows of white crosses and manicured grass stretching as far as the eye can see.

At the office, the good news filtered through, and we heard that, in the lunch hour, there would be a service of thanksgiving at St. Mary Redcliffe Church. Most of us attended and there wasn鈥檛 a vacant seat. No more work. We went home.

So now was a time for celebration. Out came the Union Jacks, and any pennants we could string across the road. Any red, white and blue garments were found to wear. We all went mad, we played loud music, made a lot of noise and outside of our shop opposite 鈥淭he Mechanics Arms鈥� and 鈥淭he Bunch of Grapes鈥� we danced in the street. 鈥淩oll Out The Barrel鈥� and the public houses did. My father strung together some old rusty saucepan lids and as we danced and sang we shook them and kicked them from one to another in time with the music. Such relief, our husbands, sons and sweethearts would soon be coming home. Dad had managed to keep a bottle of whiskey for this special day and friends and neighbours came into the shop where we drained it, drinking it from cups as we didn鈥檛 have enough glasses. Mum had managed to save some Spam and with some pickle made a dish of snacks. We ended up banging on the counter with some of Dad鈥檚 tools and singing 鈥淲histle While You Work鈥�.

Being a teenager, I went into town that night with my dancing friends. It was wonderful. The Centre and Park Street were packed with merrymakers. We joined hands in long strings and did 鈥淭he Palaise Glide鈥� all along College Green. There was blaring music, I don鈥檛 know where it came from and I didn鈥檛 care it was happy and lovely. Some were jiving 鈥淚n the mood鈥� and we laughed and danced our way up Park Street. Servicemen were up lamp posts and on statues waving to the crowds and the crowds were urging them to climb higher. Outside of the Museum Servicemen seemed to adorn the fronts of all the buildings and from a high corner of the main entrance one was conducting the singing with a bottle of beer. Most everyone seemed to have found something to drink.

Few cars were about, as the revellers took up the whole road, but those that were we allowed to pass and they had tin cans and things tied on to their bumpers. Driving up and down Park Street one car had a metal ashbin lid attached to the back which bounced up and down making a screeching noise and I noticed that in time it became red hot. We all enjoyed acting like lunatics with relief. The men took to climbing while the women danced and sang. Everyone was banging drums, tins, ringing bells, blowing horns, sounding hooters, drinking and having a fantastic time. We sang 鈥淵anky Doodle Dandy鈥�, 鈥淭here鈥檒l Always Be An England鈥�, and as night turned to morning 鈥淎uld Lang Syne鈥�. Returning home in the early hours I felt quite light headed. I didn鈥檛 know if it was all the excitement or the long guzzle of cider I had been given! That day I slept!

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