JohnCommunity events have marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day – with some of the patients on J33 and J34 wards at St James’s University Hospital taking part.
The ward staff at Leeds Teaching Hospitals felt it was important to mark the day with these patients, many of whom have memories of VE Day 80 years ago. They decorated the wards, put on special food and activities for the patients and talked to them about their recollections of the day.
Pictured are patients Beatrice and Joyce, with ward housekeeper Michelle. Beatrice was six years old on VE Day and says: “I remember the street parties but I didn’t really know what they were for. We were kids – we were just excited about the jam sandwiches. It’s been a good day today – it’s nice to do something different.”
Also pictured (top) are patients Katie and Minnie. Katie was a teenager on VE Day and says: “I didn’t pay much attention to it, I was too busy. It’s afterwards that it means more.”
Also pictured is patient Leslie, who was 17 on VE Day, with his son Geoffrey and daughter-in-law Jeanette.
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