My memories of VE Day in Hailsham

From: Daphne Bourne 
(nee Colbran)Station Road, Hellingly
VE Day in London, the crowd gathered outside Buckingham Palace. They cheer and wave as their Majesties the King and Queen with the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose appear on the balcony. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) PPP-191220-154019003VE Day in London, the crowd gathered outside Buckingham Palace. They cheer and wave as their Majesties the King and Queen with the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose appear on the balcony. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) PPP-191220-154019003
VE Day in London, the crowd gathered outside Buckingham Palace. They cheer and wave as their Majesties the King and Queen with the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose appear on the balcony. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) PPP-191220-154019003

At the time of VE Day I was nearly 18 years of age.

I was living with my parents Ernest and Bertha Colbran plus sister Barbara at Cobden House, Cobden Place, Station Road, Hailsham where my parents ran a general grocers E.A. Colbran General Stores although the address of the shop was 21 Station Road. I was working at Cameron & Co, Ladies Outfitters of Terminus Road, Eastbourne.

I was a member of the Young People’s Fellowship (run by St Mary’s Church).

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During the war the club was open for members of HM Forces to go along too.

There were many Canadians stationed in and around Hailsham. We used to go to the club at the coach House in the grounds of The Vicarage which is now called The Grange. There was a “lounge” upstairs where we could get tea and coffee then downstairs a snooker room and table tennis room.

I remember leaving the club with some friends and our Army pals, going down the High Street and George Street singing, laughing, dancing doing the conga and hokey cokey. Everyone was in good spirits, very happy that the war had finally ended. I think there were a lot of people in the pubs celebrating.

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