War veterans fly the flag

VETERANS who survived the Second World War took time out from a celebration on Thursday, marking the end of the conflict, to remember the victims of the London bombs.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Jul 2005, 15:58 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:00 BST

The veterans and other guests at the celebration tea, organised by Rustington Heritage Association, stood in silence for a minute in tribute to those killed and injured in the capital just a few hours earlier.

It was a sombre pause in what was an otherwise happy afternoon for the 150 people attending the Woodland Centre event.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The hall was festooned with bunting and hundreds of union jacks as the veterans, their wives and husbands sat down to an afternoon tea with all the features of a 1945 victory street party.

Seed cake, bread pudding, gingerbread and mock cream sponge must have brought back many memories '“ this was an afternoon as much for those who kept the home fires burning, as for those who went off to fight.

Rustington Parish Council chairman Graham Tyler, and heritage association treasurer Janis Humphrey, who first had the idea for the event, welcomed everyone, and organist Ronnie Keene led a highly enthusiastic wartime sing-song.

There was also time to take a look at the association's Home Front exhibition in the nearby museum, which brought back many recollections of the war years, and of course, everyone had their stories to tell of wartime experiences.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Janis was pleased with the end result, after months of planning. "At first, I thought it would be nice just to have a little tea party, and I booked a small room in the Woodland Centre, but it grew and grew. The parish council suggested using the main hall, and helped us with some finances, and we also received a grant from the lottery.

"I thought it would be good to have something local for people who couldn't get to the national events, and it has been lovely to see everyone chatting and sharing their memories. We wanted it to be just right for the veterans."

Members of service organisations, including the WAAF Association, the Royal British Legion and the Aircrew Association, attended the event. They included some residents of the RAF Benevolent Fund's Princess Marina House, in Rustington.

And to keep the memories alive, some of the guests are being invited to contribute to a project, Home Front Recalled.

Project worker Natalie Cain, of the West Sussex records office, will be recording their wartime recollections for posterity.

Related topics:London