'I hitchhiked to London to sing with the crowds'

THE 80th anniversary of VE Day has brought memories flooding back for those who were there in 1945.

- By JENNY SEYMOUR

Carmen Samman, 101, from Leatherhead, was among those swept up in the joy of victory.

A WAAF veteran, Carmen plotted plane movements during the war and, by May 1945, was stationed in High Wycombe, working for Bomber Command.

She said on Tuesday: "I certainly would have liked to have been up at the celebrations yesterday [in London].

"It brought back many memories of watching the events on television of the day and of my friend Audrey, who I went with to Buckingham Palace on VE Day.

"We were off duty at the time, so Audrey and I decided to hitchhike down to London from High Wycombe and made our way to Buckingham Palace, where we joined in with the crowds singing and dancing. How thrilled we were to see the Royal family on the balcony."