VE75 Day… How was yours?
Well, for many ladies in the Ridwares WI, & their friends & neighbours, the celebrations on Friday 8th May were very different to what had been planned & talked about. True to form, a great day was had by all – & homes, streets & the village as a whole, looked wonderful!
Meryl & Wendy decorated the trees outside the village hall with strips of red, white & blue knitting. Karen & Alan put up a seemingly endless supply of bunting around Oaklands Close, as did most of the residents there! It was a sea of red, white & blue! Thanks also to Wendy for the Union Jack by the oak tree itself.
Friends & neighbours brought out picnics, chairs, tables, glasses & wine/beer/prosecco (whatever tipple caught their fancy) onto their drives & front gardens & settled down to enjoy the afternoon, celebrating & commemorating ‘Victory in Europe’ 75 years ago.
The afternoon began with The Last Post, followed by Churchill’s speech… & then the music began… A good sing-a-long followed. Thanks to Ashley & the Chadwick Arms for organising the broadcast & to Alan for sorting out loud speakers in Oaklands Close & providing the song sheets!
Cake was shared – with much fun & laughter… & yes, social distancing was observed!
Those in the Oaklands, were even visited by the Police… & the Land Army ….
The sun stayed out & the weather was warm – most unlike a British Bank Holiday! – so people just stayed outside & enjoyed themselves …. What a wonderful atmosphere!
This continued into the evening when Keith Vernon had organised a sing-a-long in Oaklands Close. Song sheets were again provided & sound filled the street! The only thing missing from a traditional Cockney celebration (according to Gaye) was a conga & dancing – both unable to happen because of social distancing…..
Kath Parson describes her family celebrations: “We had a lovely VE day celebration, Mum & I made a big banner using an old sheet and some permanent coloured pens. We did this on the kitchen table…. later I found lots of coloured squiggles on the surface of the table…so an hours furious cleaning was the order of the day! The banner says ’Thank you to our WW2 Heroes,” Kent hung this up outside their bedroom window, along with some flags so all the passers by could enjoy them too. We also strung some bunting over our new garden arch. We had a nice VE Day tea in the garden which Mum & Dad seemed to enjoy and also managed to stand at the gate and see our neighbours enjoying tea (practising social distancing, of course) on the green outside our house. It was really lovely to see everyone enjoying each other’s company. Mum & Dad enjoyed all the waves and good wishes from our neighbours.“
Gaye asked her mum & her mum’s neighbour about what they remember about VE Day itself in 1945 & discovered 2 very different experiences! Gaye’s mum was at school in Barry, South Wales, all set to sit her Higher School Certificate examinations before leaving school at 17 years old. She remembers that the local lads dressed up as Ivy Benson & her band, whilst she & her friends dressed up as the Black & White Minstrels, all to put on a show. No one was offended! There was an American Army Camp behind their houses – segregated African American troops – who all joined in. She remembers that any of the Forces who were around came & joined in the local street parties. As for the food? Can’t recall! Mum’s neighbour (J), on the other hand, was back in Forest Gate, North London having been living with an ex-neighbour in Swindon due to a bomb blast in the next street which had taken the roof off the top flat that they lived in. Her mum returned to Forest Gate at regular intervals to argue with their landlord about getting the roof back! She must have been successful, because by February 1945 they were home & J was back in the first year of Grammar School being expected to make up all the work she had missed with no extra help! J remembers the feeling of euphoria at the reality of ‘Hitler not chucking bombs at us‘! She distinctly recalled the problem of the V2 rockets hitting London, as unlike the previous V1 rockets/Doddlebugs, you couldn’t hear them until they landed. “This was very frightening as it meant that some poor soul was killed. VE Day meant that there was no more worry about this anymore.” J commented that the street party wasn’t in her own street at all, as they were visiting an aunt & cousins, so had an impromptu party there. She remembers the singing & dancing round the bonfire in the middle of the street. They spent VE Night sleeping in neighbours’ or aunts’ homes… &, of course, rationing continued!
So, how were your VE 75 Day celebrations? Don’t forget where you packed away the bunting, as there is VJ 75 Day in August to celebrate as well…….!
On 11th March I flew home alone to attend the funeral of an old friend. I stayed with my son and his family rather than opening up our home in the village. It was then that I truly learned about the serious situation we were all in regarding the Corona Virus, Covid 19. The funeral was on Thursday the 12th and I had a flight booked to return to Spain on Monday 16th March. I learned on Saturday that my flight, and all Jet2 flights had been cancelled. I then had to try and get an alternative flight to get back to Spain, & to husband, in order to get the caravan home. Fortunately I managed to get a flight with Ryanair late on Sunday. I was shocked when I arrived at the East Midlands airport to see it was virtually deserted; looking at the departure board most flights were cancelled. My flight was the last one out for the duration and had very few passengers! On arrival, Alicante airport was likewise deserted except for police and airport officials in masks and gloves who stayed well away from me. We didn’t even have to go through passport control, just straight out of the airport!
Monday 23rd March: Emirates flights cancelled ….. & then reinstated by the evening ……. News announced that NZ would be in ‘total lockdown’ in 48 hours time…. Our motel owner, Murray & his wife Fliss, offered us a weekly rental – saying ‘Don’t worry. We’ll sort you out’. Change was already apparent that evening. Restaurants could now only offer take-aways – by Wednesday evening they would be closed. Eating blue cod fish & chips sat on our balcony, glass of NZ Sauvignon Blanc in hand, gazing at ‘our view’ across the bay/harbour, the prospect of lockdown here wasn’t so bad at all!
That evening saw the first ‘get together’ of the Refugees – 11 Brits & a German couple – all sat round in the car park, social distancing obviously. Coffee, beer or wine? – all depended on what you brought down with you! A great way to introduce us all to each other – Fliss & Murray were very good at this sort of thing! Of course, everyone was comparing notes about flights, their trips so far etc …. what was ‘worrying’ was the sheer number of (ex)teachers in the group. We get everywhere!
The scenery was stunning wherever we hiked – the views vast & uplifting… or quiet & reflective by a waterfall in a dell.
&, of course, we celebrated my birthday… with the new ‘gang’, all sat socially distancing in the motel car park… Fliss made me a Pimms Cake, & we provided the prosecco… We had ‘lost’ one couple by then – they’d managed to get to friends in Christchurch to stay with them, but were then stuck & unable to get to Wellington….
The 2 young lads were the next to leave – via LA to Heathrow… Antje & Jorg from Germany were on a repatriation flight organised by their Government, which was then cancelled by the NZ Government in order to protect their borders & citizens. After much re-negotiation these flights were reinstated & so they were able to get home. Which left 7 Brits …..
What strange times we are living in…… Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our daily lives have totally changed. Bears (‘The Great Bear Hunt’ for children on their daily walks) & rainbows (to honour all those key workers, & particularly those working tirelessly throughout the NHS) appearing in windows….. meetings, coffee mornings & events cancelled …. isolation for our ladies … Thursday evenings at 8pm has become a community, let alone personal focal point, with people out on their doorsteps clapping to show appreciation for all those key workers in the NHS and elsewhere.
We even got a special mention in ‘WI Life’, courtesy of Sophie, Duchess of Wessex. That is one for the history books!
Angela Lycett had knitted over 40 hats at the last count. All these efforts were very much appreciated.
Kath Parson has been busy in her back garden – & her mum & dad are doing well with their social isolation. Looking good Kath!
Of course, our experience of Lockdown so far has not always been a positive or happy one. Dot Boulton wanted to make the following tribute to Dr. El Hawrani: ” ….. an ENT specialist at Burton Hospital, Dr Hawrani held clinics also at Samuel Johnson. I worked as a clinic clerk for him. One day on my way to work I stopped to give a lift to one of the nurses who worked with Dr Hawrani, As we were chatting away in the car, I suddenly started to have a heavy nose bleed. The nurse said that shouldn’t happen. I explained to her that it was such a nuisance, some times I would go for a walk and just trip up a little and it would start. I was beginning to lose my confidence to go any where. She said I will have a word with Dr Hawrani to see if he can help you. She said the same thing had happened to her father and Dr Hawrani had cured it. I was called to the clinic and Dr Hawrani was so reassuring and kind and worked on my nose and to this day I have never had a recurrence of the problem. I was so grateful to him. Dr Hawrani had climbed Everest for Charity; he told me he had suffered nose bleeds and altitude sickness on the climb & said that young people should be made more aware of these dangers on tough climbs. When the 1st Corona Virus updates came on. I was totally shocked and upset to hear that Dr Hawrani had died from the Virus.”
…… then it must be ‘September’ for The Ridwares WI!
A scarecrow? Well, thanks to Alan & Martin for ‘the build’, Angela for his clothes, Karen for his head & hat etc & the Art Group for his face ….. A very posh scarecrow, if truth be told. All to show our support in The Ridwares WI for raising awareness of Prostate Cancer during September. And the braskets are out ready for October & our support for Breast Cancer Awareness….
Song? Well, that was courtesy of Lola Lamour at the Blythe Group meeting, rearranged to Colton Village hall at short notice (thank you Karen!), celebrating the centenary of Staffordshire Federation. Good food, good wine & good company were the order of the evening – as well as getting our dancing shoes on yet again! A lovely way to celebrate 100 years of the WI in Staffordshire.
….. ‘Team Helen’!
The weather kept fine for us, yet again, and the matches were full of laughter, helpful hints & camaraderie. 2 rounds down & the scoreboard was already beginning to flux – some teams peaked too early but ‘Team Helen’ rode the tide over the next 2 rounds to emerge victorious. Perhaps the superb food helped them on their way? – provided by Nicola & her wonderful team at The Shoulder of Mutton, Hamstall Ridware – whilst others over-indulged?
At our May AGM we celebrated with cheese & wine, ate the last of our fabulous 70th birthday cake & unveiled our ‘yarn bombing’ with a rainbow of knitted squares… A bright addition to our village landscape which quickly became a prominent visual marker! We were all issued with new name badges & this website was launched…..
Our Midsummer tea in June was another rousing success…. The cake flowed freely … there was cake, cake & yet more cake: no one could have wanted any more! It really was a ‘great get together’!
…..as was our July skittles evening in Hamstall Ridware … A fun filled evening was had by all!
Menafest in July had us filling jars with an amazing assortment of things for our Jarbola stall – another successful endeavour for us. But, why oh why, did the weather have to change that Saturday of all days?
November saw us in a more sombre & reflective mood as we remembered the centenary of the Armistice with our own ‘veil of poppies’ and unveiled ‘Tommy’. A lovely service of remembrance & dedication was led by the Rev Deborah Sheridan, with children from Henry Chadwick school reading some poems, together with Helen & Jeanette. Joyce Hopkins laid a wreath at Tommy’s feet on behalf of us all. It was lovely to see so many villagers sharing with us at this event & joining us for refreshments afterwards.
November saw us also participate in ‘World Kindness Day – painted stones, flower posies & decoupage hearts were left around the village in secret. We all know that kindness is not just a one-day-a-year-thing, but individuals really did appreciate the thought. Spirits were lifted as a result.
… & there was our members craft evening where we tried new things, or practised existing skills… & caught up with each other. Sometimes you just can’t beat a good old natter!
April saw us celebrate St George’s Day in style with another of our ever popular afternoon teas. Again the hall looked marvellous – as did the raffle & the food. But, how is it that 4 minutes after our official opening time of 3pm, we had used up every single tea & coffee pot…???? Another afternoon full of fun & friendship was had by all. We went back to The Chadwick Arms for another Chinese meal at The Stables restaurant – yummy as ever!
We do like to stretch our brain cells as well… so fielded teams for the SFWI centenary quiz. The county showground was awash with suffragette purple, green & white – we racked our brains, tried to spell correctly & enjoyed our picnics. We’ve also attended SFWI county meetings & Homes & Gardens days at the showground , listened to a variety of speakers & shopped…..
