Youngsters create bunting to celebrate key workers past and present

Among those who shared their stories from the wartime years in Wiltshire with friends at Market Lavington HC-ONE care home, near Devizes, was June Clack, 87.

She was born in Coulston, near Devizes, and later moved to the former Royal Oak pub in nearby Worton, which is now a private house.

She shared her memories with the home’s wellbeing corordinator Eleanor Cheetham who has created a memento book to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

She said: “Jean lived in Worton for most of her life. She remembers the air raid shelter her dad made in the garden and being given gas masks at school.

“She remembers the American Troops coming through Worton to go to the pub. June is a true royalist and loves watching anything relating to the royal family so she was very much forward to hearing the Queen on VE Day.”

She was not disappointed as not only did the care home stage its own VE Day party on Friday they had a very special visitor.

Her majesty may have been busy elsewhere but a giant cut out of the Queen added a royal touch to the day.

Ms Cheetham said: “We enjoyed a social distancing tea party on Friday for VE Day, where we had a very special visitor.

“We listened to Churchill’s speech, cheers the nation with Pimms and juice, enjoyed Union Jack batternburg made by the lovely kitchen team and sang wartime songs waving the union flags.

“Riaz one of our wellbeing coordinators played his guitar and everyone joined in It was a lovely event.”

Youngsters of key workers who are still attending Rowde Primary School and staff made a special display of bunting to mark VE day which celebrated the work of health service staff both now and 75 years ago.

The cut out figures of nurses is on display on the school fence.

Teacher Kate Dummett said: “The bunting was created by staff and key-worker children at school.

“We are also celebrating key-workers then and now, the grass is also covered with homemade poppies.”