VE Day was celebrated in every town and village with an outburst of joyful thankfulness such as had never before been witnessed in the long and glorious history of the British people. Everyone had realised for some days that Germany had been beaten to her knees, but it was not until Monday afternoon that the tension of waiting for the end was broken by a radio announcement that the defeated enemy had signed the Instrument of Unconditional Surrender to the victorious Allies. Later on Monday night came the announcement that Tuesday would be VE Day and that Mr. Churchill would make his historic Victory declaration at 3 pm, to be followed at 9 pm by an address by the King. The announcement was the signal for a lightning transformation of every street. Flags and banners, bunting and pennants appeared on every house and shop. The Union Jack, of course, predominated, but the national flag was strongly supported by the flags of all the Allied Nations. There were new flags with fresh, bright colours, but many were veterans that had done service in the last Great War and in the national celebrations that had taken place in the intervening years. One householder, in her enthusiasm to hang out all she could, had to be reminded that she had, hanging in a place of honour, the Japanese flag! It did not remain for long. In practically every church and chapel, services of thanksgiving were held during the day and large congregations were reported from all quarters. In the larger centres, loudspeakers were set up to relay BBC programmes with gramophone records of festal music. Mr. Churchill's stirring speech on Tuesday afternoon was listened to by everyone, and during this period streets and roadways became strangely empty and quiet. There was a similar experience at 9 am when HM the King broadcast his memorable address to his people.

WELL BEHAVED CROWDS

Troops and airmen added to the gaiety of the celebrations in many places, but on all hands tribute was paid to the good behaviour of the crowds, and there was a noteworthy absence of drunkenness among the merry-makers. This may be partly explained by the fact that little, if any, extra supplies were allowed to licensed houses, and they had all sold out by 9 pm, although they had been granted an extension until 11. Dance halls were packed to capacity at night, and in some places couples were dancing in the streets to the music of gramophones or banjos. The management of the Imperial Hotel had made plans for decorations weeks before, and on Monday four large flags - the Union Jack, Old Glory, the Red Flag and the Tricolor - fluttered gaily in a breeze on the hotel roof. Errand boys had their Union Jacks on their handlebars, while motorists displayed the flag on their cars. After six years of war, Tenby put out a really fine show of colour. Our thoughts went went back to the dark days of September, 1939, when we waited in different mood for news which put out lights in Europe for so many weary days. We remembered the holiday crowds in the streets, gathered round shop doors, listening to the BBC announcing that war was imminent. On the Saturday, with the holiday-makers almost gone overnight, the war for Tenby was ushered in by a violent thunderstorm. On Monday, when VE Day was announced for the morrow, the long years of war were ended for Tenby by another thunderstorm, which, with its accompanying vivid lightning, seemed to many like a sign from Providence that the Light of God was once more dawning on a war-weary world. The sun shone brightly on VE Day and people were out early. At St. Mary's Church the Mayor and Mayoress, with members of the Corporation, were among the large congregation which attended. An inspiring climax was the splendid singing by the choir of Te Deum on the altar steps. Choirboys were seen later on the church tower throwing down coloured streamers to the crowd below. In the afternoon sun, all the town appeared to be outdoors. Thought there had been no official celebrations arranged, everyone seemed determined to have a good time on Victory Day. Thanks to Mr. Tom Rogers, the Jazz, BBC items were broadcast from the town walls on the Congregational Corner, and at three o'clock a large crowd stood in silence to hear the Prime Minister's announcement that the European war was over. Immediately afterwards, the roll of the drums was heard as the Army Cadet Band entered South Parade. These boys looked as smart as ever and as they halted at the Five Arches a kilted Scot joined them with his bagpipes. Several hundred civilians and service personnel and boys and girls surrounded the band, and with the pipes skirling and the drums rolling, there began a Victory march through the town. Linked arm in arm, the full width of the road, the procession, led by the drum major swinging his stave, made an impressive and never-to-be-forgotten sight as they sang their way through almost every beflagged street. They must have been exhausted by the time they dispersed.