大象传媒

This story has been written to the 大象传媒 People's War site by CSV Storygatherer Coralie, on behalf of Mrs Jan Morland. The story has been added to the site with her permission, and Jan fully understands the terms and conditions of the site.

These notes were written by me, Jan Morland, then Blagden, at Sidcot School, about the announcement of the end of the War - I was 14 years old. The notes are probably missing one page, and I have added comments in brackets.

Monday May 7th 1945
Got up as usual, washed and dressed. Did dining-room waiting and then had a music lesson.
Everything was ordinary, until after games, when we had rounders on the field. Coming up at about 4.20 p.m., some Lower Fifth told us that the end was very near.

On the notice board outside the Library there was this notice:
鈥淚f the fire alarm and bells are rung this evening, it will be to summon all the school family to the hall. Go there at once. GWH.鈥� (George Hutchinson 鈥� Headmaster)

We were not called during the first part of prep 鈥� French lesson and Latin it happened to be, but we had the message that the news was expected before tomorrow.

News Flash: 鈥淭he announcement of VE Day will be made by the Prime Minister at 3.00 p.m. tomorrow. The two days holiday will be on Tuesday and Wednesday. All the school may listen to the 9.00 news鈥� - which we did.

Got to sleep at about 11 p.m, after having played several jokes.

Tuesday
Got up at 7.15. Breakfast at 8.00. All helped with dining-room waiting etc.
鈥淗ats must be worn with school coats to the church service. In Assembly sit in your Evening Meeting places鈥�. pp EBP (Evelyn Phillips 鈥� Headmistress)

After the Assembly we had to go out on the boys' playground and watch the Union Jack hoisted by the two youngest in the school, Marion Smith and Michael Cox. We sang 鈥楪od Save the King鈥�. Then June Smith and I went down to the P.O. and got soaked. It cleared up later, and we had lunch at 12.30 and siesta until 2.00. At 3.00 we heard the P.M. in the Hall, and afterwards had 2 biscuits for a snack. Jenny and I went to her home and had tea, school tea not being until 6.30. The bonfire was being prepared on top pitch and some boys were flying kites. It was very hot and sultry.

After high tea at 6.30, having had baked beans (these were a real treat!), we whiled away the time until 8.00. Then we listened to the wireless until 9.30. Afterwards we went up to top pitch. The bonfire was lighted, and then all the school played twos and threes, until it got dark. Then Mr. Smith let off several fireworks of a sort. After about an hour we all sang 鈥淎uld Lang Syne鈥� in a circle, holding hands, round the bonfire.

We all went in and had hot cocoa, and went straight to bed. The Home Guard post let off flares, and we watched out of the windows until 12.00.

Wednesday
We got up at 8.00 and had breakfast at 8.30. (This would have been an hour later than usual 鈥� part of the treat.)

We had Assembly at 9.45 鈥� 10.00. Then there was free time until 11.00 when there was a service at Winscombe Church. Lunch was at 12.30. Siesta until 2.00. Then all school had ice creams under beech tree in girls鈥� playground.
Margaret Haydon and I went to Wavering together, where we had tea at 4.30, hard-boiled eggs, sandwiches, milk and 鈥︹��.. (presumably a picnic)

鈥︹��..PAGE MISSING鈥︹��

Unfortunately, I have only the vaguest memories of these events but I was fully aware at the time that this was an historic occasion, which is why I took the trouble to write it down.

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