3 hours Ago By Chris Cordner
Sign up to our Wearside Echoes Newsletters. A monthly round-up of our retro best bits Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Sunderland Echo, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Kathleen Davidson, better known as Kathy, has shared remarkable memories of the day when Britain found out that war was over in Europe in 1945.
They danced in the street Kathy, now 93, lives in HC-One’s Ashbourne Lodge Care Home in Sunderland . Advertisement Advertisement She has never forgotten the tear-jerking day when people danced in the street on that very first VE Day . Read More “I still remember the joy in the streets,” Kathy said.
“We danced, we cried, we hugged strangers. VE Day was the day hope came back into our lives.” Kathy was seven years old at the start of World War II and 12 years old at the end of the war.
Everyone brought bits and pieces for a street party She lived in Kent with her Mum, Dad, and was one of six girls and four boys. Advertisement Advertisement On VE Day , Kathy was just shy of 13-years-old, and her family were relieved that the war was over. They celebrated by having a party with the local community from the town.
Kathy recalls the day as being ‘marvellous’ with everyone coming together and bringing bits and pieces for the street party. Everyone got dressed up for the occasion and really enjoyed themselves. During the war, Kathy’s father had been an air raid warden and went around shouting for people to put their lights out.
Playing in the remains of the bombed-out houses Her older sisters served in the Land Army and her brother was stationed out in Kenya. Advertisement Advertisement Kathy remembers the air raid shelters in the shops and thinking that when the sirens went off it was all a game. She recalled playing in the remains of the bombed-out houses and buildings; the school her sisters and brother attended being bombed by the Germans because they thought it had Canadian soldiers barracked there; and that it was close to the railway lines.
Share your family’s memories As she grew up, Kathy had a career working in retail. She married Robert and they went on to have two daughters – Christine and Susan, two grandchildren and one great grandchild. Kathy moved into Ashbourne Lodge in June 2022.
Our thanks go to Kathy and Ashbourne Lodge and we want to know if you have VE Day memories to share. If you do, email [email protected] to tell us more..
