In the early evening of 8th May, a mixed group of 8 Guides and Rangers met outside Hayes and Harlington to begin their journey from our home town to Central London to represent Girl Guiding at the 80th Anniversary of VE day concert produced by the BBC. It is not commonly known but Hayes has important links with the second world war. Hayes was the where EMI was based, an electronics and music company. EMI had a brilliant young inventor and it was in the wheat fields at Lake Farm that RADAR was perfected and used to great effect against the enemy in the later part of the second world war.
Our attendance at this event had been planned with precision and so we duly assembled on the platform and boarded the pack train heading towards London. Our train change at Tottenham Court Road was without incident where upon we boarded a Northern Line train for Embankment station.
At exit, we had a short stop in the nearby park for refreshments before walking the short distance to Horse Guards Parade.
After a bit of a challenge to locate the entrance point, we eventually managed to join the correct queue to enter the venue. The queue took at least 40 minutes to get near the line of security checks. We split into two groups for a quicker entry and both leaders found themselves up against a policeman with gun refusing to take a separate line to the children! Thankfully, they allowed us to go with the children without issue.
Entry being done, a short toilet stop and we were in the grounds of Horse Guards Parade. The majority of us had never been to an open air concert and it was spellbinding from the moment we walked in. We arrived in time for the final part of the audience warm up, we sang along to Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” 12,000 people all at once! The atmosphere was electric. We then did a Mexican wave both ways around the audience. The Guides and Rangers were especially interested in the Royal Box and spent a while looking at the pictures a leader took on their phone. They also taught said leader a few things about working a phone!!!
From a leader’s perspective, it was lovely to be at this event and it was a delight to be able to take young people to such an event which must surely bring to life the events of the world wars like no other form of learning can.
The concert then began which through the evening became an appropriate mix of war time music and songs aligned with more modern performances. We ranged from the Andrew’s Sisters, Dame Vera Lynn, to Top Loader and The Darkness with many more besides. The children certainly knew the more “modern” performers!
Coupled with the musical performances, there were very poignant and moving we heard stories from several veterans from the war along with other accounts from children who were evacuated to safer parts of the country. A particularly moving account was the little girl who was picked up from the grass verge by the lady who was to look after her. The girl was crying and asked “will you be my new mummy now?” What a heart breaking moment. It was clear that the audience thought the same as, during pauses in speaking, there was not a sound to be heard. We heard another story of a farther being sent away to war, and the constant letters sent between husband and wife. Many of the letters referenced the couple’s daughter who wanted her daddy back. At the end, it was revealed that both father and daughter were in the royal box. Another of the many move you to tears moments.
The king appeared on stage and gave his speech which was a mixture of his own thoughts and lines that his grandfather spoke 80 years ago. This address was timed to coincide precisely with the dateand time his grandfather addressed the nation. The children, once again, were quite in awe that they could get a glimpse of the king and hear him “in real life” and not on the television or radio.
Is was just amazing to be there at the concert, to experience the stories from war time veterans, the music, the atmosphere – to look around you and see 12,000 people waving their flags holding their wrists up with the illuminated wrist bands was simply magnificent.
It was a real pleasure to be part of this event and to be able to be with the Guides and Rangers and watch them as they learnt in the best way possible about VE Day, what it means, and the suffering and sacrifice that happened to so very many people and families to bring about the peace and freedom that we enjoy today.
Feedback received from the girls we took is as follows:
“What a great night and how lucky she was to attend. The atmosphere was out of this world.”
“The event was memorable. There were so many things to tell about. The man’s story really changed my feelings about VE day. I really enjoyed being there and having that experience.”
“Thinking of the poem ‘flag’ – war can seem futile and harsh however Harry Richardson’s story shows heroism and courage in the face of adversity”
We would like to thank the county for organising the tickets and for allowing us to attend.
Andrew, Unit Helper