Today, 8th May 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day, which is the day that the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe. 6 years of carnage and destruction had come to an end as Germany surrendered their armed forces. Millions of people took to the streets and pubs to celebrate peace, mourn their loved ones and to hope for the future.
The 75th anniversary provides a great opportunity for our nation and the rest of the world, to reflect on the colossal courage, determination and sacrifice that 2.9 million British soldiers saw us through this dark period.
Despite the current lockdown restrictions, Britons are celebrating the anniversary by hanging bunting, dressing windows, having family picnics and tea parties in front gardens and driveways. Some streets in Countesthorpe are even arranging quizzes, competitions and games, all within social distancing rules of course! Check out the picture below of our allotment officer, Gill Postlethwaite’s front garden!
Did you know, that one of our allotment plot holders has an Anderson World War 2 Air Raid Shelter on his plot?
Dave Orme, of plot 9A, has owned the Anderson shelter for 25 years. He picked it up from a chap in Countesthorpe, who lived in a bungalow by the railway. Dave had to dismantle it and carry it across the pub garden!
Until Dave owned it, it had been used to store feed for the goats that the original owner kept! Dave then converted it into a shed and it is still standing after all those years!