Joan’s Story

Available for over a year

Joan recalls finding out the good news in her classroom at Billericay School on a beautiful day: one of the teachers came in and said: “You’ll all be pleased to know children that the war is over.” There was a loud cheer and the teacher promised to fly over the school in a Spitfire. After a while he came up and round and across the school. He did his victory roll and then he turned around and came back over the school again. Joan cannot explain the feeling that overcame her. There were a couple of street parties near her house, where she had a wonderful time. Joan used to enjoy seeing the planes in the search lights. They used to criss-cross, keeping the plane right in the middle of it. For Joan, as a child, it was magical. She used to hear the old bombers coming over and could tell by the engine that it was heavy. But when they came back they were lighter, as they had got rid of their bombs. What stood out for Joan about VE Day was the atmosphere. She says everybody had a feeling of thankfulness that no more would they have to fear losing relatives or hearing sirens. Image: Winston Churchill and the royal family greeting crowds outside Buckingham Palace on VE Day