So much to learn from WW2's stoic and joyful warriors

T WAS an absolute pleasure to spend an afternoon with a group of Second World War veterans recently and their attitude to life should be a lesson for all of us. Astonishingly, one centenarian yoga enthusiast demonstrated a downward facing dog, where you put your hands and feet on the ground to create an inverted V-shape.

- Sam Lister

Henry, 99, showed off his dance moves, while others chatted enthusiastically over a glass of champagne.

The veterans had travelled from all over the south - thanks to the kindness of The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans - to speak to the Express about their memories of VE Day ahead of the 80th anniversary next month.

Their stories will be included in our extensive coverage of the last major gathering to mark the end of the war over the coming weeks. But the day itself at the In & Out Naval and Military Club in central London was just as revealing as the fascinating look back at one of the most important events in our history undoubtedly will be.

Each of the veterans, just teenagers at the advent of war, insisted they had done barely anything, despite their medals telling a different story.

They were all immaculately turned out, full of tales, and with absolutely no time for feel ing sorry for themselves despite the inconveniences of ageing.

THE women dismissed their roles because they were not on the front line. Ruth, 99, who worked at Bletchley Park as a code breaker, was awarded the Légion d'Honneur, France's most prestigious decorative medal.