Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of VE Day
This year, Ormiston Park Academy collectively marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe) which took place on 8th May 1945, signalling the end of the Second World War in Europe. As we commemorate this important milestone, our students have been learning about the events of the Second World War and the impact it had on our local community. Inspirational assemblies were led throughout the week by Mr Gray and displays around the school serve as a tribute to the bravery and resilience of the wartime generation.
Our very own Mrs Everitt and Ms Scott have been leading VE Day events in the library all week. Students have been watching clips of VE Day celebrations and listening to wartime music at lunch time. As part of the activities, students are writing VE Day-inspired poems for a poetry competition. To celebrate VE day students delivered speeches inspired by WW1. Students were invited to listen while enjoying a VE day Tea party organised by Mrs Padmore, the way they did 80 years ago with a tea party.
Clips of the BBC’s VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember were shared at the Tea party and will be shared with students during our tutor programme. This was a spectacular live concert marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, it was broadcasted live on BBC One and iPlayer from Horse Guards Parade in central London. This represented the finale of the nationwide VE Day 80th celebrations, and the unforgettable evening brought together music, storytelling, and tributes in a moving salute to those who served and sacrificed during the Second World War.
VE day Tea party
During our VE day Tea party, staff shared stories of those members of our own families who served in the War. Our Very own Ms Everitt talked with pride about her Nanny and Grandad Grice.
Grandad Grice was from Bermondsey London. He enlisted on 3rd July and discharged on 30th August 1946, at which point he was a leading aircraftsman. He was awarded a notation for good service in Southeast Asia Command and a medal for bravery. In 1942 he was with 245 squadron, a fighter squadron which flew over Europe stationed in England, then in France followed by Germany. After VE day, he transferred to 76 squadron stationed in India in September 1945 and then onto Alexandria in Egypt.
Nanny Grice was from Cardiff – Wales and worked in an ammunition factory, she met Grandad Grice whilst he was on leave in Wales. They fell in love and married in Bermondsey until 1954 when they moved to Aveley into a house right next to our school in Nethan Drive. This was when houses in Aveley were first built. They resided in Aveley for the rest of their lives.
Ms Hassan’s Grandparents lived in Westminster during the War. Cornelius Foster, Ms Hassan’s Grandad, was in the Royal Navy, called up at the tender age of 18 years. He travelled a great deal during the war but was never allowed to leave the ship. He served on HMS Valliant and travelled around the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
Ms Hassan’s Nanny, Margaret Foster, worked in Sugg’s on the war effort. William Sugg & Co. in Westminster, while known for their lighting products, played a crucial role in armaments production. They produced 12 million Sugg Lighting components for the war effort and Ms Hassan’s Nanny worked in the offices that oversaw this production.
Living in the centre of London, in Westminster, also meant that Ms Hassan’s family had many stories about their experience of the war’s impact, including damage to many homes and important buildings like Westminster Abbey during air raids.
During World War II, Mrs Padmore’s grandad served as a gunner in the Royal Navy. His ship set sail from Tilbury Docks, and he was away from home for a long time. He was responsible for operating and maintaining the ship’s armaments. His duties included firing the ship’s main and secondary guns during combat, as well as targeting, aiming, and adjusting fire to hit enemy ships, submarines, and aircrafts. While Mrs Padmore’s grandad was fighting in the war her nanny Gwendoline Edbrook (photographed below) was also playing an important role herself. During the war she worked as a telephone operator in the telephone exchange, she helped maintain vital communications for both civilian and military purposes. Her role was especially crucial at a time when many were serving overseas, she was able to get messages to loved ones from those serving.
On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we honour all those from Ormiston Park Academy who served and all of those in our own families who lived through the horror of the conflict. We give thanks for the peace and freedom that came with the end of the war in Europe. Let us continue to remember their stories and preserve their legacy for future generations.
Lest we forget.