What was life like in Hartlepool in 1945? Here's an insight into daily living around VE Day
The date was May 8, 1945. It was a remarkable day in history.
Just like the rest of the country, people danced and partied in the streets but what was life really like on VE Day in Hartlepool? Let’s take a look.
The Mail declared: “Long live the cause of freedom” in its 6pm edition.
Indeed, life went on. Front page adverts told of mens ties for six and thrupence at Binns. The theatres and cinemas were still open with acts such as ‘male impersonator’ Hetty King at the Empire.
There was VE Day dancing at the Queens Rink with Benny Nelson and his full orchestra, and Lil Gardner on vocals.
The Borough Hall had an unofficial dance championship with the foxtrot, tango and waltz to the music of Jimmy Allan and his Syncopators.
Admission was two shillings.
Burbank Central Hall was planning a Thanksgiving Service at 1pm and all over town, impromptu parties were springing up.
Not that peace wasn’t expected. The Mail reported ‘we had to await the final announcement which was postponed time and again after everyone was aware of the fact’.
We are indebted to the Hartlepool Museums Service for sharing archives from the Douglas Ferriday collection which shows Hartlepool was under an enormous nervous strain for a long period.
Hartlepool endured 43 air raids, 70 deaths and 480 air raid warnings. More than 280 people were injured.
West Hartlepool was one of the first towns bombed during the Battle of Britain. The Musgrave Street and Whitby Street area was hit in June 1940 with two people killed, 63 injured, and 263 properties damaged or destroyed.
Air raid alerts were sounded almost every day and night that summer.
As war went on, businesses such as the Box Factory, CM Yuill, and the Premier Hotel were hit.
The spirit of townspeople remained. One pub landlord who, after finding his premises damaged in a raid, said it would be businesses as usual with beer on sale from 11.30.
No wonder that the town celebrated with a Grand Victory Dance on the Headland until 2am, and an Old Time Victory Dance at the Town Hall.
The people of Hartlepool deserved it.