Donald Smart (FN 42-47) has sent in a reminiscence
from his diary of VE Day at the school.
“ ‘May 8th, 1945. The news came through
yesterday at 3 pm on the wireless. I was playing cricket (set A) when
Mr Gee came over and told us. There were no celebrations and things
just proceeded normally.
Today is the official VE Day and all Great Britain and America are
having a holiday. All that is, except St Bees. We had lessons as usual
all morning, although no work was done. In the afternoon we had games
as usual. Bates Hogg and I had a round of golf. I won. In the evening
we were excused prep, although we were not allowed outside the school
buildings. TA (housemaster) refused to allow us a bonfire, so at 9
pm Bates Hogg, Park, Chapman and I with bugles and Stobbart with drum
climbed the clock tower in the Foundation quad, and after a victory
salvo of three rifles, we played the ‘Cease Fire’ three
times and then, as the Union Jack was slowly pulled down, we played
the ‘Last Post’. And so to bed as usual at 9.45 very dissatisfied
with our VE Day.’
Donald does add that on the following day ‘we were given a three
quarter day holiday, which is another story.’ ”