Yesteryear: When Luton came out in force for VE Day celebrations

Outside of the town centre, streets all over Luton became banqueting halls where, at flower-decked trestle tables, thousands of children were entertained. This photograph, taken from Mike Allen’s excellent book, World’s End, shows a local community partying in Chase Street.

The publication, which offers a colourful history of the New Town area of Luton, details how this corner of the town celebrated the affair: “The jubilation the night before VE Day was unrestrained, with dancing in the streets till the early hours. Flags and streamers were brought out of cupboards and strung across the streets; my mother and father hung a large Union Jack from their bedroom window, a flag that I still have. For days there were parties held in the open air.

"In Chase Street a piano was pushed into the street and a sing-song ensued. Baker Street also held a party for the children, with trestle tables borrowed from Bailey Hill Church, put up in the road with dustbins at either end to stop any traffic that might come that way. Sandwiches and cakes were there for all to enjoy. May Street, Cambridge Street and Dorset Street also had their celebrations. One resident of May Street hung up an effigy of Adolph Hitler and proceeded to shoot at it with a Webley air pistol, to the great delight of all.”

Despite the raucous celebrations, it is reported that only 19 people were taken to hospital in the town during the festivities, and no one was seriously injured. Meanwhile, eight babies were born VE day in Luton, which was commemorated in the names of two. One, whose surname began with ‘E’ was christened Vivienne and the second was named Veronica Edith.

> Yesteryear by Carly Smith, Luton Heritage Forum.