General Chat

I remember it reasonably well - as I lived up a country road there was no street party, but my paternal grandmother's road combined with the adjoining road for a party and I went there

I vaguely recall VJ day too - we went to the top of our road - the mountain top where there was a big bonfire and lots of people getting inebriated :-D

I was looking online at pictures from London of people celebrating last night, and dressed in 1940s styles.

It reminded me that I do indeed have a memory of VE day ........ Mum and Dad took me into town so they could see what was happening and join in.

I can remember peering through some railings at a big "house" with big columns outside, lots of lights, fire works, noise, cheering, etc.

It took me years to work out where they had taken me ......... after all almost all iron railings were removed for the war effort.

I suddenly realised on our trip back in 2001 where we had been.

The old Oldham Town Hall has Greek-style columns, and across High Street was a raised walk, and there were iron railings separating the pavement from the drop down to the road. Those railings had apparently not been removed as they were a safety factor. I guess in fact that the High Street had been originally dug through the side of a small hill on top of which was the Parish Church

So .............. Mum and Dad took me down to stand looking through the railings to the Town Hall, which was the centre of the celebrations!