Thread by @SwindonLocal, Hello everyone!Here's a thread of the best photos from our gallery capturing [...]

Hello everyone!
Here's a thread of the best photos from our gallery capturing V.E. Day in Swindon.

First up, Swindon children tucking in under bunting at Langford Grove in Old Walcot:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4693287618/

#VEDay75 #VEDay
@SwindonCouncil @SwindonLibrary

Please RT!

1945: VE Street Party, Langford Grove (Old Walcot, Swindon)

Source: Scan of original photograph. Set: SMI01-2. Date: May 8th 1945. Repository: From the collection of Mrs F Smith. Used with her very kind permission. Local Studies, Swindon Central Library....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4693287618/

Here's that same bunch proudly showing off something - but what?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4692788469/

#VEDay75 #VEDay

1945: Effigy of Hitler, Langford Grove in Swindon

Effigy of Hitler made by Mr Ted Wheeler, 23 Langford Grove, Old Walcot, Swindon. Source: Scan of original photograph. Image: SMI01-3. Date: 1945. Repository: From the collection of Mrs F Smith. Used...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4692788469/

Let's take a closer look...

Aah yes - it's Adolf Hitler of course - in effigy! Made by Mr Ted Wheeler of 23 Langford Grove,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4692470855/

#VEDay75 #VEDay

1945: Effigy of Hitler, Langford Grove, Swindon.

Effigy of Hitler made by Mr Ted Wheeler, 23 Langford Grove, Old Walcot, Swindon. Source: Scan of original photograph. Image: SMI01-1. Date: May 8th 1945. Repository: From the collection of Mrs F...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4692470855/

Another gem here:

This is Havelock Street in the town centre

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/7170598624/

Some surnames of people in the photo: Razey, Woodman, Brooks, Boyce, Wyatt, Luker, Shurmer, Foster, Chivers, Richman, Lainchbury, Styles, Romans, Wilde, Hall, Crube.

#VEDay75 #VEDay

1945: VE Day Party in Havelock Street, Swindon

Some surnames of the people in the photo include: Razey, Woodman, Brooks, Boyce, Wyatt, Luker, Shurmer, Foster, Chivers, Richman, Lainchbury, Styles, Romans, Wilde, Hall, Crube. We do not know who is...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/7170598624/

A #VEDay mystery now:

Where was this taken? This stumped even expert Andy Binks who shared this with us from the collection of Dave Neal (whose dad Norman is stood to the left of the accordion player):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4504832305/

#VEDay75

1945: VE Day in Swindon - Unknown Location

Source: Scan of an original photograph. Set: BIN01. Date: VE Day - 8th May 1945. Photographer: Unknown. Repository: From the collection of Mr Dave Neal (whose father Norman is stood in the photograph...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4504832305/

Next up is this pic of a street party on Prospect Hill, Old Town:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/9978012783/

#VEday75 #VEDay

1945: VE Day Street Party, Prospect Hill, Swindon

Source: From a digital image. Set: SKA01. Date: 8th May 1945. Repository: From the collection of Mr John Skane. Used here with his very kind permission. Local Studies, Swindon Central Library....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/9978012783/

Next a wonderful view of Swindonians dancing on #VEDay in Farnsby Street - once a fully residential street, (unlike today!):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5445171325/

Click on the link to read a wonderful detailed comment by someone who was born in 1942 and lived at no.25!

#VEDay75 #VEDay

1945: Street party on Farnsby Street, Swindon

Source: Scan of an original photograph. Set: DAY01-1. Date: 1945. Repository: From the collection of Mr D. Day. Used here by his very kind permission. Local Studies at Swindon Central Library....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5445171325/

We love this properly posed group photograph taken in Regent Place (between the @WyvernTheatre and the back of the Savoy).
Presiding is Swindon Mayor Charles Macpherson - grandfather of Angus Macpherson ( @PCCWiltsSwindon )

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4843601280/

#VEDay75 #VEDay

1945: VE Day Party, Regent Place, Swindon

Source: scan of print. Set: WHE02-1. Date: May 8th 1945. Repository: From the collection of M. Wheatley. Used here by her very kind permission. Local Studies at Swindon Central Library. www.swindon...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4843601280/

Same Mayor, same day, different street party. This photograph was taken in Westcott Street:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/6035303532/

#VEDay #VEDay75

1945: Swindon Mayor Charles MacPherson at V.E. Day Street party on Westcott Street

Source: Digital image. Set: MAC01-1. Date: 1945. Repository: From the collection of Mr S.H. Macpherson. Used here by his very kind permission. www.swindon.gov.uk/localstudies

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/6035303532/

Now the same street, but different war!

Peace party in Westcott Street party after the Great War of 1914-1918:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5546632394/

Taken by Swindon's most important early photographer, William Hooper (1864-1955)

1918: Peace Celebrations at Westcott Street, Swindon (Postcard)

Source: Digital image. Set: WIL04. Date: c1918. Photographer: William Hooper. HOOPER COLLECTION COPYRIGHT P.A. Williams. Repository: From the collection of Mr P. Williams. Used here by his very kind...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/5546632394/

We know Hooper's descendants, including local author & historian Paul Williams. His collection of Hooper photographs is LEGENDARY and has to be seen to be believed!
Luckily for you, he generously shared over 1000 scans with us, which you can see here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/albums/72157622112864411

Another party, and another mystery!
Where was this #VEDay Swindon street party ?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/27815415043/

#VEDay75

1945: VE Day Peace Party, Swindon

Source: Digital image. Set: ELL01. Date: 12th May 1945. From the collection of Mr R.L. Ellis. Used here by his kind permission. Local Studies, Swindon Central Library. www.swindon.gov.uk/localstudies

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/27815415043/

Of course we are saving the best until last.

These final two are wonderful!

First up is this fab photo of #VEDay celebrations in Catherine Street, Swindon:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4681948971/

So much detail! Note the dismantled Anderson table shelters in the front gardens!

#VEDay75

1945: VE Day Street Party - Catherine Street, Swindon

Source: Scan of an original photograph. Image: BEN01-2. Date: 1945.. Repository: From the collection of Mr J. Bendle. Used here by his very kind permission. Local Studies at Swindon Central Library....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4681948971/

And last but not least our favourite! #VEDay in/near Farnsby Street. See the (now-demolished) Central Club on Milton Rd looming above? Water Tank 257 at the end?
This is later in the day: a band's playing (on the right) and the dancing begins!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4682580868/

#VEDay75

1945: VE Day Street Party - at Farnsby Street? Swindon

Source: Scan of an original photograph. Set: BEN01-6. Date: 1945. Repository: From the collection of Mr J. Bendle. Used here by his very kind permission. Local Studies at Swindon Central Library....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/swindonlocal/4682580868/

Thanks for reading!

You can search through 6800+ of our pics here: http://www.flickr.com/swindonlocal (a fraction of what we hold in our cabinets at Central Library).

Email us your local history or family history enquiries: localstudies@swindon.gov.uk

Thanks,
The Local Studies Team

p.s.- For more on local VE Day celebrations, go to this link ( http://www.balh.org.uk/publication-tlh-the-local-historian-volume-41-number-1-february-2011#) and download (for free) the Feb 2011 edition of The Local Historian (by @BALHNews).

It includes an excellent article by Chris Sladen on Swindon's 1945 #VEDay & #VJDay celebrations (pp.28-41)

And for more on the ww2 home front in Swindon/Wilts we recommend this by @LibLocalStudies (Wiltshire's Local Studies Librarian at @HeritageWSHC):

https://swindon.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=125530

"From blackout to bungalows: WWII home front Wiltshire & the austerity years 1939-1955" (Hobnob, 2016)

And for more on the human cost of ww2 for Swindonians, there is this essential book by one of our own team:

https://swindon.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=165090

"Roll of Honour 1939-1945: Swindon & District"
by Katherine Cole (Local Studies, Swindon Libraries)
(Hobnob, 2017)

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