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Meriel grew up in a small village outside of York during the war 鈥� she recalls the obvious excitement and relief felt by her family and friends.

鈥淲hen they announced VE Day my mother was in her element,鈥� she recalls.

As a child, Meriel spent the years before VE Day unaware of the impacts the war was making to the lives of people around her. When victory was announced, Meriel and her mother, who had organised Red Cross dances in their village hall right through the war, decided to host VE Day celebrations at their village hall.

鈥淲e were only a mile from the camps so we had no difficulty in filling the hall.鈥�

After a lot discussion, her mother decided that the dance would take place in their village hall on the night before VE Day.

She complained to her mother the hall was too dated and needed newer decorations: 鈥淚t鈥檚 an awful old hall鈥� we decided we鈥檇 have to beg, borrow or scrounge some decorations. People were very good, they fished out streamers and flags and we did our best but the big problem was whether I鈥檇 be able allowed to go because I was 14 at the time.鈥�

During the day there were parades and fancy dress, whilst at the school they were making sandwiches. In the evening Meriel and her friends decided it would be nice to go into the town.

鈥淥nce we arrived in town we realised we could hear the music of the dance from The De Grey rooms鈥� a crowd of boys from the boys school arrived鈥� we had a lovely jigging around the exhibition square but I had a certain time I had to be home for and waiting at the bus stop was my father to take me home鈥� I had a great day.鈥�

Celebrations like Meriel鈥檚 were common across many villages and communities in North Yorkshire. They represented the relief felt by men women and children around Europe that war was finally over.

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