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John Harp鈥檚 Story

The war is over and we can now look forward to peace

John was 7- years-old when Europe celebrated victory and lived in Caverswall on VE Day. He went to St Peters Primary School.

He remembers VE Day as a very sunny day. He went to a children鈥檚 party that was held on the field, on the Hollows just off the square in Caverswall.

鈥淭he day started for the young people in a field on the hollows, in the village by the old stone house, which was set aside for sports and games, sack races, egg and spoon races for all the children of the village,鈥 he recalls.

The party then moved to the Red House pub on the Square in Caverswall where villagers鈥 baked cakes and made sandwiches.

In the evening there was a band playing around the stocks in the square. Everybody turned out to dance around the stocks.

On the following Sunday, there was a special celebration service held in St Peters Parish Church. There was rejoicing throughout the village; the troops would be returning home.

They all listened to the radio every evening and John remembers Winston Churchill鈥檚 speech. His parents told him that the war in Europe is over and we can now look forward to peace.

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2 minutes

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