The years of rationing and shortages were forgotten at street parties

THE following article is adapted from my book Yeovil In The Second World War.

- JACK SWEET Yeovil historian

'I've never seen so many happy faces in my life,' exclaimed Yeovil’s Mayor, Councillor William Vosper, as he concluded his visits to children’s street parties across the town in the days following VE-Day on 8 May 1945. And how right he was! The years of shortages and rationing were forgotten as the youngsters enjoyed the freely given food and soft drinks in quantities which many had never previously experienced.

On 9 May Park Street held two parties - one at each end. An organiser told the Western Gazette that ‘I had a bomb dropped behind my back door and out of nine dropped, ours was the one which did not explode. We were lucky and I felt I must do something for the children.’ Twenty children were entertained in Bond Street for which Mr Chubb, Baker and Confectioner, supplied an iced cake. In South Street from Bond Street to Penn Hill, 12 youngsters were given a party and 20 children in Woodland Grove sat down to a splendid tea.

During the days which followed Yeovil got into a party mood and all across the town children from toddlers to teenagers enjoyed tea and entertainment. In some streets people brought out radios and gramophones, whilst others played accordions or pianos.

‘The Gazette reporters were out and about at the parties and recorded their impressions. At Glenville Road, about 40 children were entertained and local tradesmen supplied oranges and other goodies, with ice cream served from a butcher's refrigerator. The party was followed by singing, races and games.