AS Winston Churchill announced the surrender of Germany and the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, people in Kidderminster took to the streets to celebrate.
On May 8, the Prime Minister told the nation: "My dear friends, this is your hour. This is not victory of a party or of any class.
"It’s a victory of the great British nation as a whole... I rejoice we can all take a night off today and another day tomorrow... celebrating victory.”
And on that Victory in Europe Day, Kidderminster resident Vera Badger recalled Lorne Street's celebrations, saying: "No committee was set up. It was just generally decided to hold a party for Lorne Street residents.
"Food was scarce but everyone contributed from their rations. People tended to stack up for emergencies and I was in the habit of putting food items in a box in the cellar - a tin of salmon, a couple of jellies, something for a special occasion – and this was a special occasion.
"Unlike today, when you can live a couple of doors away from someone and not know their name; everyone then knew everyone in their street.
"We looked out for one another and it was taken for granted that we would give whatever we could. There were sandwiches, jellies and homemade cakes.
"Some people kept chickens, so we could get a few eggs for baking, or there was powdered egg if all else failed. This didn’t taste so good but we were accustomed to using such things.
"Most parties were held out in the street but, for us, Milton Hall was available. The piano in the hall was played for musical chairs.
"The tea party was for everyone but mainly the children. It was just great to have something to celebrate at last.”
Many Kidderminster streets had parties like this, although, as Vera said, they were usually outside.
The Poplar Road party was held two days later on May 10 when over 60 children had a splendid tea and enjoyed donkey rides.
The highlight of the day was when every child was given an orange, a bag of sweets, ice cream and 3d bit - approximately 1.5p. Mr Connolly donated the ice cream and Mr Crisp the 3d pieces.
The evening finished with singing and dancing for the older people with Jack Barber and his wife Ruby giving some fine vocal renditions.
Graham Edginton recalls that there were several victory parties arranged in Sutton Park Road.
He said: “There was a celebration bonfire held in a field owned by Mr and Mrs Beddoes close to Rifle Range Lane.
"It was there that I was introduced to a young lady, Muriel Hartland, who was attending with a work colleague. We were married in 1952 and have been together ever since.”
The Shuttle reported that returning prisoners of war were welcomed home with parties.
A reporter at the time wrote: "Celebrations were held at St John’s Institute on May 12 for Kenneth Haycock and Kenneth Cooke of Peel Street, and Charlie Brooks, youngest son of John Brooks and his late wife of three, The Serpentine, Sutton Farm Estate. Charlie had arrived home on April 26 after being imprisoned in Germany for five years.
"He was forced to march 800 miles by his captors in an attempt to stop him and his fellow prisoners being rescued by the Allies. The British 2nd Army eventually rescued them at Ilsen.”
Three months later, Japan surrendered and the Second World War finally ended.
Reminiscences and photographs are taken from Kidderminster and District in the Second World War by Bill Wood, Bob Millward and Robert Barber for Kidderminster and District Archaeological and Historical Society.
There are many more stories of the town’s Second World War experiences in the book, which is available from the society for £10 via kidderhistsoc.btck.co.uk.
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