Thought For The Day – Thursday 8^th May 2025

We Remember – V.E. Day 80

Above: Geoff Roberts, pictured with his daughters, who is ninety-nine years old, fought in the Battle of Arnhem in 1944 in the Second World War.  Geoff has visited the cemetery every year for sixty years where his friends and fellow soldiers who passed away from this life in the war are laid to rest. As he leaves the graves,  a tear streams down his face. He points behind him and says: “The heroes are here”.

Very best wishes to those performing, and producing, House Drama this evening.   Thank you, as ever, to Mr. Hows.   It is a very great pleasure also to welcome back our former student, and now greatly respected broadcaster and author, Greg James, who has been so appreciative of, and to, the School over so many years, and never forgotten his roots. We are equally delighted to be  hosting his brilliant writing partner, and fellow broadcaster,  Chris Smith.  Teamwork makes the dream work. Greg and Chris will our adjudicators this evening in the first House Drama at our new facility. It says everything that students at T.B.S.H.S. loved the literature of Greg and Chris, even before they knew Greg had, like you,  worn the “Black and Gold”.

A few years ago, Greg returned to the School on London Road to record a moving programme about the 250,000 child soldiers from the U.K. who fought in the First World War.

Today we remember the end of the Second World War on the occasion of the  80^th anniversary of the historic day when Nazism and Fascism was finally defeated in Europe.  We will observe a Two-Minute silence at T.B.S.H.S. at 12.55 p.m., joining the rest of the U.K. by remembering in this hour and on this very important day.

As we keep silence,  we remember and reflect with humility on  freedom, love, respect, sacrifice, service, suffering, values. Then and now.  We reflect on our roots, our lives and what we are doing, and the good we will and must do.   You can wear a poppy if you wish.

Values transcend everything.

Connecting to V.E. Day,  today and tonight is a very appropriate time for House Drama.  This is because there were many happy and appropriate community activities organised, especially for young people who had endured so much.

“Look to and respect the past, present and future” is a very appropriate and important motto for T.B.S.H.S.  And indeed the world.  Today also, Sir David Attenborough is ninety-nine years old. Globally, and locally and nationally,  as we currently see so many wonderful opportunities, but also significant and severe challenges, a study of the past will be so key to our future.

In her inspirational broadcast at the start of the Coronavirus global pandemic, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of V.E. Day, Queen Elizabeth II said: “Never give up, never despair – that was the message of V.E. Day.”  Queen Elizabeth II served in the Second World War and, in disguise, joined the crowds in London, with her sister, Margaret,  on the evening of V.E. Day.   In the pandemic, Queen Elizabeth’s lifelong duty and service continued.

Ultimately all we can say to “The Greatest Generation” is:    “Thank You For Everything”.

We must always remember and we must never forget.

Today we are very mindful that for so many today 80 years ago  would have been a day of mixed emotions:  joy unconfined;  but also the deepest and greatest sadness at lives lost and suffering endured . Further, The Second World War continued in the Far East. The Second World War  did not end globally 80 years ago today.

We continue the piece e-mailed yesterday, from a “Hertfordshire and Essex Observer” article at the time,  explaining  how this momentous day was marked in this town.  Notice how children were looked after and there was community, music, sport, religion and doughnuts.

“By Tuesday morning (8^th May 1945)  – when the weather, too, had entered into the spirit of the occasion and sunshine added real brilliance to the scene – everyone was in holiday mood and came out to see what V.E. Day really felt like now that it had come. The day passed happily and quite quietly.  Services of thanksgiving at the churches had crowded congregations, and in the afternoon the bells of St Michael’s Church rang out a peal in celebration of the historic day.

In the evening,  the centre of attraction was the Causeway, where there was dancing on the car park, specially floodlit for the occasion, fireworks on the Castle Mound and a huge bonfire in the Town Meads.  Now the black-out was beaten with a vengeance. As darkness came on the crowds grew larger and it was noticeable how many parents had brought their children to see this cheerful display of light.  One street lamp in the Causeway, back temporarily to full pre-war brilliance, was gazed at in wonder by the youngsters, many of whom, of course, had never seen such a sight before. At about 10.30 a cascade of fireworks went off on the Castle Mound, which, ringed with flares, made an impressive sight.  Then the bonfire was lit…Other bonfires were also to be seen in various parts of the town, and a constant ‘barrage’ of fireworks was kept up till after midnight. Searchlights in the surrounding district swept the sky and flashed out ‘V’s’. Loud speakers at the car park, which earlier had given Mr. Churchill’s announcement and the King’s speech, were used to relay music for dancing which went on till a late hour.

Celebrations continued in the coming days with Victory street parties held for both adults and children.  Games arranged both for children and adults included a football match between married men and women, the men having their hands tied and not being allowed to run. The result wasn’t recorded. Children were entertained to a Victory party, the cost of hiring the hall paid for by an American soldier who had since been posted abroad.

But by far the biggest party was one attended by 1,200 Bishop’s Stortford school children which followed a special service at St Michael’s Church.  A local firm supplied biscuits and American soldiers in the area provided doughnuts, sweets and presents.”

A V.E. Day Party: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0l7lgkn