Northamptonshire veteran hopes VE Day helps us think about peace

Events are taking place across the UK and here in Northamptonshire to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

There'll be a service at St. Paul's Cathedral, as well as a memorial event at the National Arboretum, as well as a national two minutes silence at midday.

Events are happening across Northamptonshire too with beacons due to be lit this evening across the county.

To mark 8 decades since Victory in Europe was announced, we've been speaking to those who remember the day.

Brian Silvester

89 year old Brian Silvester served in the Army, following in his fathers footsteps, who was in the RAF during WW2. He's taking part in events in Northampton today with the Royal British Legion.

He tells me he remembers his father talking about the work he did then:

"He used to teach fighter pilots exercises for diversionary tactics. The word got out that they fed our night fighter pilots a special diet so they could see in the dark.

They even went as far as to get my dad to giving reduced light exercises to the pilots, and that was all to hide the fact that we were getting radar, which was highly secret."

Brian grew up in East London and remembers hiding in air raid shelters during the Blitz:

"In the middle of an air raid there was one quite close to us and it shook the shelter, and the candle lighting the page was knocked over leaving us in complete darkness.

Brick dust from the explosion leaked into the shelter."

Street Parties

Before his own career VE Day came 80 years ago today when Brian was just 9, and he remembers the joy of celebrations in East London:

"I was down the Mall with mother, we went there, we were East Enders so it was our duty to go and celebrate, it was a wonderful time.

My mother played piano by ear, and we took our piano out into the street and had a bonfire in the road which melted the tar! And all the neighbours got very merry indeed."

Brian hopes we continue to think back and remember sacrifices on VE Day, and that it leads us to become more a peaceful society:

"If only we could realise we are made with aggression in us, that may give us a chance to say, calm down, and talk rather than fight."

Events today in the county

Today they'll be events in Northampton, Oundle and Raunds to mark the 80th anniversary. Whilst this evening there will be beacon lighting in Corby, Earls Barton, Thrapston and Titchmarsh, Weedon at St Peter and St Paul Church, Brackley Town Park and Irthlingborough.

Events are planned throughout the month, you can find out more by heading to the West Northants and North Northants Council websites and theArmed Forces Covenant Northamptonshire.

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