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14 HEART STREATHAM
HEART STREATHAM 15
STREATHAM CELEBRATES
VE DAY 1945
The 8th May marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day in 1945 -
Victory in Europe Day.
KING GEORGE VI VICTORY TOUR OF STREATHAM 10 MAY 1945 AT SUNNYHILL SCHOOL COPYRIGHT LOCAL HISTORY PUBLICATIONS
SUNNYHILL ROAD VE DAY STREET PARTY - COPYRIGHT LOCAL HISTORY PUBLICATIONS
Following the signing of the German surrender
the previous day, Prime Minister Winston
Churchill announced the 8th May would be a
public holiday so the nation could celebrate the
cessation of hostilities on the continent. The War
effort to defeat Japan in the Far East resumed
afterwards, and three months later VJ Day was
observed on the 15th August and the second
world war came to an end.
May 8th saw an outbreak of celebrations
throughout Streatham where numerous street
parties were hurriedly organised to mark the
occasion. Tables and chairs were laid out in the
centre of roads and home-made bunting and flags
were hung from lamp posts and the windows of
neighbouring houses.
While men were preparing the road ladies busied
themselves in their kitchens preparing party food
for the children to enjoy - no simple task, given
the strict rationing that was then in place. Other
residents organised party games, sports and
other amusements to entertain the children.
Typical of such parties was that held in Cunliffe
Street, Streatham, which was organised by
Mrs D Miles. After the children had feasted on
sandwiches, cakes and orange squash a special
treat was brought to the table in the form of a
large quantity of ice cream which was donated by
local resident, Mr Wicherson.
Following this sumptuous feast races were
organised further along the road, with many of
the mothers joining in the fun and participating
in the three-legged and wheelbarrow races. At
the conclusion of the afternoon, prizes donated
by local residents were
distributed among the
children with Ronny Elmer
being given a handsome boat
for winning the most races
and Margaret Williams being
presented with a pair of silver
salt-cellars as the leading girl
racer.
Later that evening the
festivities continued around
hastily erected bonfires,
with particularly large blazes
organised in Westcote and
Strathdale Roads.
Two days later, Streatham's
celebrations were concluded
when King George VI,
Queen Elizabeth and the
two princesses, Elizabeth
(our present Queen) and
Margaret her sister, made
an official visit to the town
to inspect local civil defence
forces at Sunnyhill Road
School. Large crowds lined
the streets to welcome the
Royal party, including a
number of Italian Prisoners of
War who were working in the
neighbourhood.
The King was greeted at the
entrance to the school by
the Mayor of Wandsworth
and was led through the
crowds of cheering children
in the playground to inspect
the various detachments on
parade including members of
Streatham's ARP unit.
It was to be over a year
later, on 8th June 1946,
that Wandsworth council
organised official Victory
celebrations on Streatham
Common when thousands of
local residents and children
gathered there to once again
celebrate the end of the
Second World War.
John Brown
The Streatham Society
Illustrations by Local
History Publications