Sheffield VE Day teenager Margaret Maxfield 'happy our dreadful War was at an end’

One Sheffielder who was aged 14 on VE Day describes her memories of that time as ‘very intense’.
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Margaret Maxfield, who lives in Hollis Hospital, Ecclesall Road South, writes: “My memory of VE night is very intense. As a 14-year-old, I was happy our dreadful War was at an end.

“Two weeks before the War started, my Dad, who was a Royal Naval Reserve, had been taken away by the police, at dead of night, to rejoin the Navy and had then spent the following six years getting himself sunk on the Hermes and the Prince of Wales and then serving on the Russian convoys, so it was wonderful he would soon be home, safe at last.

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“As you will imagine, our leader’s announcement that the War in Europe was now over was a great relief to me and I looked forward to the celebrations that were being arranged for that night on Thirlwell Bank, a cul-de-sac off Thirlwell Road, Heeley.

VE Day street party in Nicholson Place, Heeley. Picture submitted by George DuckerVE Day street party in Nicholson Place, Heeley. Picture submitted by George Ducker
VE Day street party in Nicholson Place, Heeley. Picture submitted by George Ducker

“So, this was my recollection: At long, last, this dreadful War was over. All our news had been on the War in Europe, so the Japanese War seemed so far away. But our War was over.

“No more bombings. No more worries about the arrival of the Telegram Boy bringing bad news. Just a time to celebrate that we were all still alive and here.

“All the neighbours gathered at the bottom of the yard to listen to our beloved leader give his wonderful speech and then all the work began to make the party complete. It was to be held on Thirlwell Bank as this was a cul-de-sac and could be quite private.

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“All the preparations started. The people on Thirlwell Bank brought out their tables and chairs and made one long table the full length of the Bank.

“They covered the table with sheets and people began to bring in plates, cups and cutlery and set everything up.

“Precious rations were raided to make sandwiches with flavours from our wartime recipes - mock crab, Spam etc, buns and jellies - which were all delivered to the destination and deposited in cellars to keep cool - no refrigerators at that time.

“And a huge guy, looking remarkably like Adolf Hitler, sitting on a chair atop a huge bonfire.

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“And then it was time for the fun to start. It was magical. The blackout had become a ‘dimout’ a few weeks earlier and my sister and I had spent many evenings roaming round Heeley, savouring the magic of lights seeping through curtains - wonderful after all those years of complete black when darkness came.

“But tonight, even the curtains were open and naked light streamed out of every house on to the festivities,

“The food was consumed and then the bonfire was lit. I noticed that the adults seemed strangely excited, but joined in the fun.

“And then, Adolf caught fire - the excitement grew and there was a sort of explosion - not an enormous one, but one which caused much amusement among the adults.

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“I learned later that a firework that had been saved from the beginning of the war for such an occasion had been placed in a strategic position on Adolf’s body and this was the explosion all the adults had been waiting for.

“The evening ended with singing the lovely songs made famous by Dame Vera and we all went to bed, happier than we had been for several years. What a memory.”

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