As VE Day is remembered across this weekend and next, committee member Stella Etheridge has kindly shared this photo and the accompanying text from a book remembering Coney Hall’s own VE Day celebrations in 1945:
“This grand victory procession took place at Coney Hall on May 19th 1945, a sign that although May 8th had been official VE (Victory in Europe) Day, celebrations continued in the weeks that followed.
Rumours of the imminent end of the war had circulated freely in early May and the atmosphere was full of waiting. Then, on the evening of May 7th 1945, came the announcement of Germany’s surrender, and the rejoicing began. There was dancing on the streets, singing, flag-waving, bonfires and the pealing of church bells.
Buildings such as the Town Hall in Beckenham, and many others, were floodlit after dark, a nice contrast to the blackout of not so long before. The Coney Hall celebration, a little later, featured no less than 760 children, and as the photograph shows, Britain’s allies were not forgotten, particularly the USA.
The procession was followed by tea at the Coney Hall and at the Coney Hill Free Church hall. The highlight of the later variety entertainment at Wickham Common School was the appearance of a huge three-tiered iced cake, which required three men to carry it in. It was big enough for every child to have a piece, and had been made by Mrs Simmonds of Sylvan Way”
It sounds wonderful! Here’s more of the photo, including the shops in the background:
Coney Hall Village Residents' Association (CHVRA) 