Veterans recall 'euphoric' VE Day celebrations

A group of World War Two veterans have described dancing and singing in the streets during "euphoric" VE Day celebrations nearly 80 years ago.

The six veterans, all now aged between 96 and 100, gathered for a tea party at The Ritz in central London to share their memories of the "joyous" partying on 8 May 1945, after six years of devastating conflict.

The group, which included a codebreaker, an RAF mechanic and a D-Day infantryman, shared wartime stories and spoke to schoolchildren about their experiences.

Joyce Wilding, from Surrey, said: "It was joyous, we did a dance all down Piccadilly."

The 100-year-old veteran was in Churchill's Secret Army, the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and was then a supply driver.

She served at Thame Park in Oxfordshire, a stately home transformed into a secret training ground.

On VE Day she had the day off.

She said: "There were people up the lampposts. I can't remember ever having to pay for anything, they gave us drinks.

"We went down to The Mall, it was absolutely jam-packed with people singing and dancing and cheering."

Ruth Bourne, 98, from High Barnet in north London, worked at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire where codebreakers intercepted Nazi messages.

On VE Day, she was also in London taking part in the celebrations.

She said: "It was a great, euphoric feeling.

"People were doing the conga with complete strangers holding each other round the waist.

"I don't think anyone anywhere went to bed that night, it was such a party spirit, everybody just feeling happy and glad it was all over."

Doreen Mills, 96, lived in White City, west London and worked in an ammunitions factory supporting the war effort.

Speaking about partying with American soldiers in central London, she said: "We went up to Piccadilly, we had a great night out there with the Yankees, dancing all night up there."

The veterans' get-together came as the Royal British Legion, which organised the tea, announced its national programme of celebrations marking the historic 80th anniversary of VE Day in May.

The charity is in touch with more than 100 surviving Second World War veterans, but the numbers reduce each year.

Mark Atkinson, director general of the Royal British Legion, said: "It feels an incredibly poignant time 80 years on just to stop and pause and thank people.

Additional reporting by PA Media.

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.