Today, May 8, marks 80 years since the official surrender of all German military operations, marking the end of World War Two in Europe.
Titled, Victory in Europe Day, on May 8 1945 more than one million people celebrated with street parties throughout the UK to mark the end of the European part of the war. Even the then Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Princess Margaret were allowed to sneak out of Buckingham Palace and wander incognito among the crowds to take part in the celebrations along the Mall.
The British Prime Minister at the time, Winston Churchill, said: “Friends, this is your hour, this is not a victory of party or class, this is a victory for the Great British nation. And so, we cheer, we embrace, we sing with full hearts, but we do so with the deepest gratitude to those who have brought us this moment.”
It was a day of joy and celebration, with colourful bunting and flag waving, music and dancing, but also to remember and give thanks to those brave servicemen and women.
For the 142 pupils at Framlingham College on the morning of May 8 1945, they gathered to listen to the BBC World Service, with the young boys struggling to contain their excitement that war was over – with one boy, ‘Atkins’, so keen to telephone his parents, that he climbed through a top window and shimmied down a drainpipe so he could be the first to use the only school pay phone on the College grounds.
The boys were given two days off to go into Framlingham Town to join in with the local celebrations and attend the fair on the meadows surrounding the Castle. But with all the excitement, there were a few mischievous antics – particularly one boy who climbed all the way up the front of the school to the old flagpole and placed a chamber pot on top, resulting in one of the staff members collecting his 303 Royal Enfield rifle to shoot it down, which he successful did in a single shot.
Today, in a special Chapel service, we honour and celebrate all those who gave their lives for us all. Led by our Chaplain Brynn Bayman, the service began with our CCF parade and our opening hymn; ‘I Vow To Thee My Country’,
Addressing the whole school in an emotive speech, our CCF Commanding Officer Lt Colonel, Martin Myers-Allen, recited Churchill’s speech from 1945 and honoured the 85 Old Framlinghamian’s who gave their lives for our country and our school.
Closing our service with ‘Jerusalem’, our Heads of Houses then released the red, white and blue balloons from the ceiling of the Chapel and the whole school erupted in celebration.
A huge thank you to our Chaplain, Mr Myers-Allen and our theatre team for organising a brilliant service.
