Oldham’s Party Atmosphere

Oldham was trying to encapsulate the party atmosphere VE Day had when Winston Churchill first declared it a public holiday.

When the Nazi Germany surrender was announced on the radio waves 80-years-ago, people across the country took to the streets singing and dancing.

In Tommyfield Market, Viva La Vintage singer Abbi-Kaye Ellison was in charge of getting locals moving and singing in the same way. The Yorkshire-born performer belted out hits from Vera Lynn, Elvis the Beatles – getting market-goers’ feet tapping.

At one point she even had a few punters up on stage with her singing along. 

“‘We’ll meet again’ by Vera Lynn is usually the one that gets people going,” Abbi-Kaye explained. 

“When I’ve done the 1940s weekends before I’ve had people coming up to me showing me their war medals and telling me their stories, which is lovely. The music brings out those memories for people.”

Pictured above: Susan and Mike Shaw with friend Les Mayrick (right)

Married couple Susan and Mike Shaw had bumped into old friend Les Mayrick in the market and were all bopping along to the music. 
Mike said: “We’ve come in here and saw all this going on. I’ve listened to it because it’s my mother’s sort of music. 

“I get emotional hearing all this. The market has changed, it used to be the best market in the country, so it’s nice to have something positive like this happening here.

“Because my mother is no longer with us, hearing this and seeing the celebrations is quite emotive for me.”

Les was born just a year before the war ended, so hearing the vintage music took him back to his youth. His memories are more of the rebuilding effort of post-war Britain and the bomb shelters on his street.

Les added: “It was difficult times so it’s really important to have these days so people remember.”

Another crowd member, John Bruce, said: “Luckily my father didn’t go to war because of the job he was doing. But he did do the home guard.

“I was a military police officer. I always try to get out for VE Day and VJ Day because we should never forget. It worries me that these days people don’t remember, don’t want to remember or don’t care – which is wrong.”

Linda Jankowski brought a picture of her uncle to Tommyfield Market and was watching on. VE Day remains a vitally important day for her family.

The 69-year-old said: “My uncle was 22 when he died on December 12, 1944 and he was killed in action in Athens. He was in the parachute regiment and was killed by a German sniper.

“I went to where he was buried 40 years ago to see him. But today means a lot to me because of the end of war in Europe and the celebration. But it’s a sad day as well as we remember those who lost their lives.

“We must remember those who didn’t come home from war.”

Coun Ken Rustidge, who served as a major in the army during the Iraq war, said the music was bringing people that nostalgia and feel many people had 80-years-ago.

The Failsworth East ward representative said: “I think it is nostalgic and the council has done a great job putting these events on.

“As a veteran myself it’s nostalgic to think about those who served, particularly those who didn’t survive, on either side.
“We should do everything we possibly can to prevent war. 

“But if it wasn’t for our service people we probably wouldn’t be here. We need to carry on this remembrance and not repeat the same mistakes.”