VE Day in Mid Sussex in 1945 was celebrated with great gusto

As the armies of liberation progressed through occupied Europe en route to Berlin, at home coastal defences were gradually removed, tenders being invited for the demolition of the dragons teeth and pill boxes which had been so feverishly constructed in 1940.

At Bognor and Worthing, barbed wire was cleared away from the promenade, giving some small children their first glimpse of an unobstructed seafront, though the beaches still had to be cleared of mines.

The formal German surrender was taken by General Montgomery at his Luneburg Heath HQ, near Hamburg, on May 4, 1945. In Britain, Tuesday, May 8, was declared a public holiday, VE (Victory in Europe) Day.

The excitement really began the evening before, as described by the Mid Sussex Times of May 9, 1945: “Here in Mid-Sussex everybody has been highly elated by the tidings of victory. Newspapers have been bought up; the BBC broadcasts regularly listened to; flags, pennants and streamers appeared in the shops as if by magic; and the governing bodies and special committees got into their stride in making arrangements for VE Day.”

People had been waiting so long for the moment and onto the streets they spilled, cheering and singing, slapping each other on the back, ready to drink the health of Mr Churchill. Roll Out the Barrel and We Won’t Go Home Till Morning were popular songs. The threat to freedom had vanished and everywhere there was an impatience to find expression for the mood of gratitude and relief.

Across Mid Sussex, VE Day dawned with dull skies but spirits were not to be dampened and the weather improved. Informal joyous letting off steam on VE Day itself was followed by more formal, if rather damp, official celebrations the next day (Wednesday). Many informal street parties were, of course, also organised. “Bring your own cup and plate,” they were told as rationing was forgotten for the day.

The Mid Sussex Times reported: “In the sunlit streets, coloured riotously with the flags of the Allied Nations, and red, white and blue bunting, the people, sporting patriotic rosettes and emblems, celebrated.

“Church bells rang out and Mr Churchill’s historic speech was broadcast from loudspeakers. At night, the revelry reached its height. Bonfires were alight everywhere; there was the welcome barrage of firework explosions; the streets were alive and noisy with gay, singing crowds.”

In Haywards Heath on VE Day morning, an unusual service of thanksgiving for victory, and prayers for those still fighting against Japan, was held at the cattle market.

The evening saw St Francis Hospital, then Brighton County Borough Mental Hospital, illuminated by hundreds of coloured lights on the main path and bulbs spelling VE on the water tower and over the main entrance. Both staff and patients enjoyed a dance and concert.

In the town, hundreds headed for Victoria Park to enjoy ‘rouser’ fireworks and a sing-song around a huge bonfire, which stayed alight till morning. Unfortunately, outdoor events planned for the following day, including folk dancing and entertainment by the Cuckfield Sky Rockets Concert Party, were cancelled due to heavy rain. A marquee allowed the town’s Silver Prize Band to entertain the few who stayed and a dance, to amplified vinyl records, went ahead at the Public Hall.

In Burgess Hill, a centrepiece of VE Day was Churchill’s speech at 3pm relayed by loudspeaker outside the council offices to huge crowds. Many stayed on to dance and sing the afternoon away to amplified gramophone records. The festivities carried on through the afternoon with street parties for children, and well into the night with house parties and a dance at St John’s Institute. Finally, bonfires and fireworks lit up many parts of the town, all of which, as the Mid-Sussex Times reported, “would have made an ARP warden blink with dismay a few months ago!”

More formal celebrations came the next day, including a procession to St John’s Park, headed by liberated prisoners of war and war workers, an open-air thanksgiving service, followed by children’s sports in the afternoon, a Punch and Judy show and other events.

Around the Mid Sussex villages, there were similar celebrations. Ardingly’s bonfire was surmounted by Der Fuehrer made by local firm Crosse, Tattersall and Miller. In Balcombe, the King’s speech was broadcast at 9pm through loudspeakers outside the Victory Hall and the subsequent dance was made possible by an amplified radiogram. Bolney’s giant bonfire, on the Vicarage Field, included effigies of Himmler, Goering and cronies. The Red Star Dance Band from Haywards Heath accompanied the dance at the Queen’s Hall, Cuckfield.

Brook Street had a torchlit procession accompanied by accordion and drums. Hassocks Cinema (did you know there was one?) hosted a thanksgiving service. The recreation ground was the site for Horsted Keynes’ bonfire which included an effigy of Mussolini.

Scaynes Hill held an open-air service outside The Anchor pub, now The Farmers. Slaugham held a victory parade for children. Sports were arranged for Staplefield children on the common off Rose Cottage Lane. Finally, people in Wivelsfield raised £11 6s 6d on VE Day to help reconstruct churches in Europe.

Of course, there were tears as well as happiness. Those who had given their lives were remembered. So, too, those still fighting the Japanese and those yet to return from their wasted years in POW camps in Europe and beyond. There would be a special time for remembrance and for this day at least, the overriding sense was one of unbridled rejoicing.

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