Blitz to the Ritz

EIGHTY years on, six of the best of a wartime generation gather together for tea at the Ritz.

- BY LUCY THORNTON

Sitting around a decorated table, the group shared their memories of the glorious VE Day on May 8 1945 that ended five long years of hell.

All aged between 90 and 100, each one did their bit in the Second World War - from D-Day veterans, an RAF mechanic and a munitions worker to a Bletchley Park codebreaker and one of Churchill's Secret Army the Special Operations Executive.

They got together this week in the famous hotel through which Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, then aged 19 and 14, danced the conga on that day of heady jubilation after slipping away from Buckingham Palace to join in all the fun and excitement.

The old warriors swapped their stories as the Royal British Legion urged the nation to join in the upcoming 80th VE Day celebrations in May. The RBL had put out an appeal asking those who served to come forward and take part in the anniversary, and said they had received hundreds of responses.

RBL director general Mark Atkinson said: "The Royal British Legion is very proud to be putting veterans at the heart of these celebrations.

"It feels an incredibly poignant time 80 years on just to stop and pause and thank people.