How Corby celebrated V.E day, as reported by the E.T. (May 8th 1945)
Cheerful Noise Battle Raged At Corby.
Precisely at 1pm on Tuesday Corby gave vent to its pent-up feelings. For five years it has been working seven days a week, sometimes twelve and sixteen hours a day, holidays included, to hope to achieve victory.
Hooters, buzzers and loco whistles, men making gongs out of old oil drums broke the afternoon calm. Drivers competed to make the loudest and the most sustained din. The victory overture was terrific and the loco drivers are still arguing as to who won the battle of the noise. But who cared? The performance was distinctive of the town and Corby is proud of it.
Bands of joyful men and women paraded the streets singing the latest songs 'Roll Out The Barrel' seemed to be the favourite. Accordionists supplied the music. One band passed the Evening Telegraph office led by Mr. W. Scales who was a prize-winner at the recent Corby amateur talent competition.
The church bells were rung immediately after the Prime Minister's talk by enthusiastic campanologists, and again at 7pm.
Biggest Blaze
Most shops opened for a few hours on Tuesday morning. Many shops were sold out of cigarettes and tobacco before 10 o'clock and closed. Long queues were outside shops dealing in food commodities. One greengrocer had served over 600 customers and sold all his potatoes, cabbages and lettuces before 11 0'clock. Pastry shops could hardly cope with the rush and were closed very early. Apparently all housewives were out to get in foodstuffs before the traders closed.
The tenants of the council houses on Oakley Road had the 'Mother of all Bonfires in Corby'. Forty cart loads of hedge cuttings were piles as high as a house by the west side and at 9 o'clock it was fired. At 10 o'clock the east side lighted their monster pile. The kiddies had had a splendid tea provided by the tenants; then they had the time of their life romping and singing round the mighty flaring furnaces.
Al Fresco Dance
Every street seemed to have its bonfire - Netherfield Grove, Bessemer Grove, Highfield Grove, West Glebe Road, Lodge Green Road, Westfields Road, Fineshade Grove, Weekley Avenue, Stephensons Way, East Avenue, Kelvin Grove etc. All organised by the local residents.
Effigies of all the Nazi chiefs were burnt, and the children had a great time. Our reporter stood at the top of Rockingham Road at 12.30am on Wednesday morning. In all directions he could see the glare of bonfires reflected in the skies. To the East, Benefield way, rockets rose and exploded in cascades of brilliant stars. The factories were working with the black-out off. The bleeder was roaring and flamingand from this vantage point the centre of Corby looked like a cauldron of fire surrounded by lesser fires.
All roads led to the Welfare Club on Tuesday night. Mr. C.L. Benner and the Weklfare Entertainments Committee threw the grounds open from 6 pm till- just as long as the people wanted to remain, which was around 2 am.
Four bands, George Graham's, Ballantynes, Corby Silver band and Eva's Trio were in attendance. The back entrance to the stage was opened and fitted up as a concert platform. Loudspeakers brought the music over the grounds and open-air dancing went merrily on until everyone was satisfied.
Over the stage was Hitler - hanged well and good. One onlooker, after seeing the effigy, plagiarised Winston Churchill, and remarked "Some chicken - some neck"
Refreshments were served in the Club until 11 pm. It was floodlighted and well decoarted. Many local artistes had volunteered to help to entertain the crowd, yet the compere repeatedly asked for more artistes, and got them.
The spontaneity and goodwill was infectious.
But home-sickness amongst the Scotch was apparent. It was clearly expressed in the parody of of the song 'Tipperary' which was rendered as 'It's A Long Way To Bonnie Scotland'.
Open-air dancing took place again on Wednesday night at the Welfare Club. The Odeon Cinema was floodlit..
On Tuesday night all the places of worship had their special services.
