Sent by:Elsie Skipper
Sent to:John Skipper
Sent from:Balham, London
Date of letter:10 May 2045
"We listened together to the declaration of war, we should have been together for Victory. How I wish you could have been here to see the celebrations."
This letter dated 10th May 1945 was sent by my mother, Elsie (Bunny) to my father, John Skipper, who was in Nigeria working for the British Crown Agents.
My mother lived in Rossiter Road, Balham, London with my maternal grandmother and her two sisters. My sister who was born in 1934 had been evacuated from London to live with an aunt in Suffolk. I was born in 1948 and also spent my early childhood living in the same house.
The letter was found by me after the death of my parents when sorting out their personal papers. It gives a personal snapshot of what life was like in London during the VE celebrations for millions of London residents and I found it very moving.
Transcript:
Balham
Dear darling,
Isn't the news simply wonderful. Victory over those stinking Germans at last. Thanks God every member of our family is here to see it. How have you celebrated out in Africa? I've been thinking of you all the time. We listened together to the declaration of war, we should have been together for Victory. How I wish you could have been here to see the celebrations. There has never been anything like it before, and never will again I trust. I don’t mean the celebrations but the cause of same. Everybody has been so keyed up this past week. I can’t begin to describe the looks in people’s faces. It's been wonderful. We listened together the B.B.C. taking us round the various big cities recording the people’s reaction to the news. London of course was the most exciting. How I wanted to go and mingle with the crowds, but it was folly to even think of going up there alone. Remember when we went to see the floodlighting for the Coronation? I wanted to see this with you. Well I couldn't, so I had to content myself by taking a walk round Balham. As you can imagine the houses are simply dripping with flags, ours as well of course. Mum raked out all the Coronation flags and all and I got cracking on getting them out. Stuck a string from the front room window to the lampost, and I've got a smashing picture of Monty in my bedroom window. Draped it with two Union Jacks and it looks lovely. Lil made the French flag out of some pieces, and that is draped out side the window with the Liberation shield (which she also made) right in the centre. And she made the Stars & Stripes, because we couldn't buy one anywhere. I cut out the 48 stars and felt quite dazed afterwards. The result looks really good. We had thought of attempting the Russian flag but the hammer & sickle got us beat. Anyway the house looks very patriotic, and I must say that Rossiter has as brave a show as anywhere else in Balham. Mum Elsie & I went for a walk on Tuesday evening. It was getting dusk and as we walked we found bonfires everywhere. Not in back gardens, but right in the middle of the streets. People were dancing round them, some had pianos out on the pavements. I think nearly every side street in Balham had their bonfires and when we got back, we found one in Rossiter, and the man opposite had flood-lit his house. Very posh it looked. The next night it was the same. Bonfires all over the place. Rossiter Road had two this time. Its all so wonderful. I wore a big red white & blue bow in my hair and felt thoroughly proud. Wish Patsy had been here to see it all, but I expect they celebrated over there as well. I'm going over Saturday. I don't know if I am run down or if it is reaction to peace, but I am starting to have a sty on my right eye which is a thing I have never had in my life. It aches rather and looks awful. Write soon darling and tell me what you did for Victory days. I am saving the papers for those two days so that you can see them and add them to our store of papers we have saved. So long sweet. Best love, Bunny Ning
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