VE Day Gallery

“75 years ago today World War 2 ended in Europe.  After a series of surrenders of forces in specific locations a final declaration was signed early in the morning of 7 May 1945 near Reims in France when General Eisenhower accepted the unconditional surrender of all German forces and hostilities finished the following day, 8 May 1945.  One day’s Public Holiday was granted in the UK before attention turned solely to the battles in the Far East.

To mark this historic event, Potters Bar & District Photographic Society had planned to hold an exhibition at The Galleria in Hatfield, just a stone’s throw from the De Havilland factory that produced so many aeroplanes during that war.

WESTLAND LYSANDER by Philip Jones
SPITFIRE

To replace the physical display the Society has added this page to its website to present an on-line version of the exhibition.  The photographs were selected to represent 1940s themes.

FIGHTER PILOTS’ FACES-BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL by Graham Coldrick
ST PAULS SURVIVED – BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL by Graham Coldrick

One of our members, and former Society President, Marion Dale, was 13 at the time.  She says “the whole town [Lewes in Sussex] took part in street parties.  My mother made jellies from blackcurrant juice and gelatine which had to be melted in boiling water, it came in great lumps ugh!”. 

However the celebrations were tinged with sadness for all our family as my father never returned from France in 1940”.

This is the original photograph taken on the day by the local newspaper featuring Marion (centre row white blouse) with her sister behind her.

Lewes Street Party on VE Day
HURRICANE
DAD’S ARMY by David Willoughby
FIGHTER ACE by David Willoughby
LANCASTER BOMBER
FUR BECOMES HER by Sue Willoughby
GETTING READY by Fiona Adamson
LOOKING OUT by Philip Jones
NAVY AND BLUE by Lesley Alsford
READY TO CELEBRATE by Fiona Adamson
WATCHING THE HURRICANES by Lesley Alsford
WAITING FOR THE PARTY TO START by Fiona Adamson
THE MERRY GO ROUND by Sue Willoughby
PICNIC AT THE READY by Fiona Adamson

We hope that you enjoy the pictures.”

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