V.E. Day

What a fabulous day. Mrs W and I went to Swingrave to take part in their VE Day celebration. Revellers turned up from far and wide dressed in all their 1940's finery, The venue was camouflaged as an air raid shelter. Inside it was completely blacked out. Nurses and wardens helped guests to their seats in they blinked their way the darkness, the only light being table candles.

Archive radio recordings were broadcast, local historians presented short talks on the human effect of the ear in the locality. The somber and very tangible accounts of the effects of war in the nation were closed with a minutes silence and a lone piper playing the last post. 

The the blackouts were torn down, an avalanche of balloons was released and the party began in earnest.  The band struck up with jazz, swing, ragtime, boogie-woogie and more. Playing three sets - they needed the breaks! 

The guests danced, ate, danced, drank, danced then danced some more. No one wanted it to end. I took over 500 photographs in all, in between eating and dancing. A seriously fun afternoon.