OLD DALBY VICTORY IN EUROPE CELEBRATIONS
Last week saw the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe day.
Thanks to the ODVH committee for organising, on Monday 5th, an interesting display of WW2 memorabilia with an emphasis on wartime Old Dalby and Queensway life. It included a wonderful wind-up gramophone, complete with a variety of wartime songs on 78 records! It was good to get together over delicious cake, tea and coffee and think about how fortunate we are to have moved on from the restrictions of war, and to enjoy our freedom.
On Thursday the 8th, after the flag had been raised at ODVH, Carol Manchester, Sarah Needham, Christine and Jacqueline Todd rang the bells at St John the Baptist as part of the VE80 Day celebrations. A big thank you to the team.
At 9.00 pm, villagers took part in a torchlight procession from the Crown Inn up Debdale Hill to the site of the Old Windmill. At 9.30pm the Beacon was lit as was the Lamp of Peace by Aria and a silence kept. This was followed by the singing ‘I Vow to Thee my Country’, WW2 songs and the National Proclamation was read. A huge thank you to Neil for building our very own Old Dalby Washing Machine Drum Beacon!
On the 10th Nether Broughton VH hosted an evening of great 40s entertainment with Lady Lindy leading in song. The hall was packed, some dressed up in their 40s frocks and demob suits, all enjoying the well-prepared buffet and friendly atmosphere.
Well done to all involved for commemorating this important event. This was, of course, a time to celebrate our peace but no one present was in doubt of the immense effort and irreplaceable sacrifice that won the freedom we all now enjoy.