Sunderland woman's amazing memories of VE Day provide a fascinating insight into the past
Dorreen Storey, nee Snaith, was 12 when she got to experience one of the most incredible days in history.
War was over in Europe and Dorreen had been evacuated to live with relatives in Earley near Reading.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAs soon as peace in Europe came, Dorreen was transferred to be with another aunt at Muswell Hill – ready to be picked up at Kings Cross for the journey home.
But they had time to take in the VE Day celebrations, and what a sight they were.
Dorreen, now 87, said: “I had never seen the Underground before. And on the way to London, everyone was shouting and they had hats and streamers.
“We went to Trafalgar Square and right up to Buckingham Palace and I saw the Royal family. It was all breathtaking.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdLondon that day was hit by violent thunderstorms yet still the crowds gathered from 8am onwards. Newspapers reported ‘flashing skies’ as if in reminder of the air raids.
The visit to remember lasted from lunchtime until the evening for Dorreen. It included sandwiches for lunch and generally wandering around.
“It was fantastic and there was no trouble,” Dorreen remembered. “Some people were swimming in the Serpentine and climbing on statues. Everyone was so happy.”
Dorreen spent the war in a little village which was quiet and away from the worst of the air raids. She said she ‘didn’t mind because I knew I would be staying with relatives and they were good to me.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdDuring her childhood in Sunderland, Dorreen went to Hendon Board School and later West Park School when she came back home.
In later life, she worked in jobs including clerking, secretarial work, bookkeeping and later in a funeral directors.
We asked Dorreen whether the war years were harder for people than the world’s current battle with the coronavirus.
She said: “I don’t think things were harder then. We lived with it. Children didn’t expect much. We were happy with a ball to play with, or we played hopscotch.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHusband Bill died in 1982. She has a daughter and three sons.