Looking back – VE Day in Horsham

Eighty years ago on this day the Horsham district , along with every other part of the UK, celebrated Victory in Europe, or VE Day!

After six years of war, the relief was enormous.

However, on the Monday, May 7, Horsham was full of rumours as people waited for what seemed the inevitable announcement.

Once it came that Tuesday would be officially VE Day flags were quickly attached to poles and hung from windows.

In among the many Union flags were also those of the USA and Russia.

The pubs were soon crowded and there was dancing in some of the streets around the town.

On VE Day itself, which saw periods of rain, all the churches held services of thanksgiving in the morning, with large crowds gathering. More services were held in the evening.

There were several street parties, such as in Oakhill Road and Bethune Road, while in Park Terrace East tables were set out for a children’s party with cakes, biscuits, ice cream and oranges – a rare treat after years of rationing!

In the evening it was the turn of the adults to have some fun.

Residents lit up the area by running lights from their homes into the street.

Over in Roffey there was a bonfire in a field next to the Star pub, started by local children. There was another in the Chesworth Crescent area.

However, in the town centre celebrations didn’t start until 9pm when people began gathering. An hour later the Carfax and Market Square were packed!

Girls with rosettes linked arms with servicemen, singing and waving flags. Any vehicle trying to make its way through town was soon engulfed with enthusiastic people hanging onto the roof or bonnet.

The popular local Astoria Dance Band had been playing in a hall nearby but around midnight moved in front of the floodlit war memorial to entertain the masses for an hour.

People had fun and were well-behaved. By 1am the crowd quietly dispersed.

In Market Square there were fireworks and everyone singing old favourites such as ‘Pack up your Troubles’ and ‘Tipperary’.

Bonfires were lit around the town with effigies of Hitler ablaze on top.There were also a few gunshots as part of the celebrations.

Further afield at Colgate there was a church service and a bonfire, while there were dances at Knepp Castle and Billingshurst.

The following day there was a thanksgiving service in Horsham Park with more than 1,000 people attending and in the evening the Drill Hall in town had a dance, while the Astoria Dance Band volunteered to provide music from 5pm to 7.30pm and again at 10pm.

Local shopkeepers and residents switched on their lights to illuminate the area while the bandstand lights were also turned on.

On the following Sunday there was a bumper crowd for the Thanksgiving Service for Victory at Horsham Parish Church.Those who couldn’t get into the building stood in the churchyard with the service relayed via loudspeakers at the north and west doors and at the gates.

Street parties for children continued over the next few weeks with one large gathering of Station Road, Oakhill Road and Burford Road residents.

There was also a party for the children of Brighton Road, Kerves Lanes and St Leonards Road and another in the Chapel Hall, Roffey, for youngsters in Lime Avenue. Dragons Green laid on a function for 70 village children and those of of Shipley.