Yesterday, the College marked VE Day 75 with a special assembly, lessons and activities. Beginning with Thursday's Thought of the Day, led by Deputy Head Academic, Mr Jones. Mr Jones started the Thursday Assembly by saying:
"Tomorrow (8 May) marks the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, Victory in Europe Day. The day that marked the end of the Second World War in Europe when Germany (led by the Nazi party) surrendered to the Allied army. This important event is why this year’s May Bank Holiday has been moved to tomorrow.
"Like most of us, I have a family connection with the Second World War. This is Frank Hope, my grandfather, a gunner in the Royal Artillery. On VE Day, my grandfather was somewhere in Germany. Like so many men of his generation, he never really did share many of his experiences in later life, preferring not to be reminded himself, I suppose. However, when I was young he used to joke with me about a pair of socks he had left hanging out to dry on a tree somewhere in Germany. Leaving camp in a hurry one morning he left them behind and joked with me that they were probably still hanging there. I later went on a school music tour to Germany and he asked me to keep an eye out for them. Sadly, I never was able to reunite him with his socks!"
Mr Jones acknowledged how for many VE Day (Tuesday 8 May 1945) was a day of celebration, resulting in large gatherings, with dancing in the street, services of thanks for peace and late night parties. It was also a time of sad reflection and an opportunity to acknowledge the years of suffering and personal sacrifice.
Mr Jones reflected on the current COVID-19 crisis and whilst in no way comparing our experiences of lockdown to the experiences of our great-grandparents and grandparents who endured years of restrictions, he noted there are some similarities in that both generations have had to alter the way they live and give up certain freedoms once taken for granted. Indeed, Mr Jones remarked on how we are reacting to this current situation in much the same was as the 'golden generation' did, but looking after our neighbours, giving thanks to the frontline workers (in our case the NHS), and adapting to new ways of living.
We then heard about some of the things that staff and pupils are looking forward to resuming when lockdown ends, such as playing and watching sport or seeing friends and family. Many of the community are also committing to some of the new routines and activities they have started in recent weeks, like working on an allotment, reading, playing music and sewing.
The Thursday Assembly ended with Mr Jones sharing a short video featuring some remarkable colour footage of the scenes in Central London on VE Day.
Throughout the course of Thursday, teachers spoke about VE Day in their live lessons with pupils, spending five minutes learning about the events leading up to the end of the Second World War in Europe, noting how fighting continued for elsewhere in the world for a few more months
In Lower School and Year 9 art lessons, pupils designed and created their own VE Day bunting during art lessons, a selection of which are available below.
All Shiplake families are encouraged to send in photos of them celebrating VE Day over the weekend - please email [email protected].
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