MAY 8, 1945, was celebrated across Britain as Victory in Europe (VE) Day. It marked the end of six weary years of war against Hitler’s Germany.

And how did York celebrate? By downplaying things, of course. At least officially.

York City Council’s finance committee insisted it should be a day of thanksgiving rather than celebration – and refused to pay for illuminations in the city’s streets.

This provoked a predictable backlash. One councillor in favour of lights – a Councillor Ferrey, who had lost a son in the war – said illuminations would have been a “symbol after the darkness in which Europe had been held for nearly six years”.

The Yorkshire Evening Press continued to carry correspondence on its letters pages about the issue throughout much of May. “Not a bright start to any post-war thinking or planning,” wrote one correspondent, who signed himself only ‘Disillusioned’.

Another correspondent wrote: “Why must York be so dull and always in the background when other towns plan to be so gay?” The council may have been begrudging, but the people of York were in the mood to celebrate. “The citizens made merry in celebrating their release from five years and eight months of war in Europe,” commented The Yorkshire Gazette.

“The weather cleared and happy crowds thronged the streets, singing and enjoying themselves thoroughly.”

The celebrations are vividly described in local author David Rubinstein’s latest book Peace Comes To York: May-December 1945. There were street parties, fireworks at York Minster, and bonfires – some of them burning effigies of Hitler and other leading Nazis.

Mr Rubinstein frequently draws on eyewitness accounts to bring the scenes to life, among them that of a young woman named Alexina who was a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). She wasn’t yet 20 at the time, but much later confided her memories to Van Wilson, the York oral historian, from where her memories have made their way into Mr Rubinstein’s book.

“On VE night, York really came alive,” Alexina said. “Betty and I went into the Burton Stone, which was filled with RAF boys buying all sorts of mixed drinks. We had a few, then decided to go on to a dance. There were victory dances at the Albany, the Co-op, and the Clifton ballroom, but as usual we preferred the De Grey rooms. Bert Keech’s band was playing there all week, and the atmosphere was electric. All the windows were flung open and people were dancing out into the street.”

Mr Rubinstein is the author of two previous books – War Comes To York: Summer 1914, and War Comes To York: July-October 1939 – describing the impact the coming of the world wars had on the city.

This book, like the previous ones, is meticulously researched. It provides a snapshot of the city at the end of the war, including a description of the major employers, an account of the housing, rationing, queues and shortages that continued to affect everyday life – and a description of the 1945 general election.

It is those exuberant passages about how York celebrated that live in the mind, however. One correspondent to the Evening Press claimed the celebrations actually got out of hand, resulting in young trees on The Mount being “wantonly destroyed”.

Not so, insisted a man describing himself only as “York Bobby” (presumably a local policeman) who also wrote to the newspaper to set the record straight.

“Over all, the wanton damage was not widespread,” he wrote. “All things considered, York behaved itself remarkably well.”

• Peace Comes To York, May-December 1945 by David Rubinstein is published by Quacks Books, priced £5. It is available from Quacks Printers at 7 Grape Lane, York, and from good local bookshops.

 

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