VE Day (Victory in Europe) was the day that the allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi forces and the end of Hitler's Third Reich.
Mayor Newham of Reading formally announced the end of the Second World War at Queen Victoria's statue on Friar Street outside the Town Hall. The day was celebrated on both a national and international scale, from the UK and the Commonwealth to Europe and America.
The people of Reading celebrated on mass with street parties held primarily for the children but also for the whole community to enjoy. Almost every street had made its own bonfire, around which local residents danced and sang or merely watched, with peaceful satisfaction. In the Reading suburbs every spare field or patch of grass was utilised for these celebrations.
The Berkshire Chronicle (now the Reading Chronicle) reported that the celebrations in Reading had been overwhelmingly positive, however due to lack of printing space it was impossible to publish photographs of them all. In this gallery you can view some of the published and unpublished photographs that we have in our collection here at Reading Museum.
Mayor Newman announces the end of the War
VE Day Parade outside the Town Hall
VE Day Parade and Salutes, Town Hall
Armour Road, Tilehurst
De Beauvoir Road, Reading
Carnarvon Road, Reading
Catherine Street, Reading
Eldon Street, Reading
Foxhill Road, Reading
Garnet Street, Coley
Mapledurham Victory Sports Day
Miller's Arms Pub, Caversham
Norcot Road Fancy Dress, Tilehurst
Palmer Park Victory Day Fete, Fancy Dress Parade
Palmer Park Victory Day Fete, Fancy Dress Knight
Princes Street, Reading
Thames Avenue, Reading
Torrington Road, Whitley
Wantage Road, Reading
Wolseley Road, Coley
Mayor Newman announces the end of the War
Mayor Newham of Reading formally announced the end of the Second World War at Queen Victoria's statue on Friar Street on 8th May1945. He and the Corporation later attended a Civic Service at St Laurence's Church.
This photograph was published in the Berkshire Chronicle on 11 May 1945.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A744.1
VE Day Parade outside the Town Hall
VE Day celebrations in Reading took place outside the Town Hall on Blagrave Street. In this image you can see the parade passing past the Town Hall (right) in front of the Queen Victoria's Statue.
This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A744.2
VE Day Parade and Salutes, Town Hall
The mayor takes the salute for the VE Day Parade outside the Town Hall on Blagrave Street. In the background is the bomb damaged Market Arcade that was destroyed by an air raid in February 1943, 41 people died in the raid.
This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A744.3
Armour Road, Tilehurst
Armour Road entertained over 100 children and adults to a victory tea, a fancy dress parade, a gift of an orange to each of the children, a bonfire and community singing.
This photograph was published in the Berkshire Chronicle on 18 May 1945.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A745.5
De Beauvoir Road, Reading
The people of Reading celebrated on mass with street parties held primarily for the children but also for the whole community to enjoy.
This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A745.1
Carnarvon Road, Reading
The street party celebrations on Carnarvon Road.
This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A746.4
Catherine Street, Reading
Catherine Street offered a glorious spread of food, followed by games, prizes for each child, a supper of bread, cheese and coffee for the adults and some street dancing.
This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A746.5
Eldon Street, Reading
This scene is from a party held on Eldon Street where the street were joined by two Sikh soldiers.
This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A745.8
Foxhill Road, Reading
This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A746.2
Garnet Street, Coley
Garnet Street residents in Coley were accompanied by both Mayor Newham and Councillor McIlroy as well as a group of American GI Servicemen. Ivy Millam of 12 Garnet Street made the banner and played the piano.
This photograph was published in the Berkshire Chronicle on 18 May 1945.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A745.9
Mapledurham Victory Sports Day
A Victory Day sports competition was held in Mapledurham in the north of the Borough. Events included the 'three legged' race and the 'egg and spoon' race amongst others.
This photograph was published in the Berkshire Chronicle on 1 June 1945.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A753.9
Miller's Arms Pub, Caversham
This pub was at Paddock Road, not far from the site of Caversam Mill. This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A745.3
Norcot Road Fancy Dress, Tilehurst
In the Reading suburbs every spare field or patch of grass was used for VE Day celebrations. Norcot Road in Tilehurst held a fancy dress party to remember the occasion.
This photograph was published in the Berkshire Chronicle on 25 May 1945.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A745.2
Palmer Park Victory Day Fete, Fancy Dress Parade
A Victory Day Fete was held in Palmer Park. Entertainment included a fancy dress parade, a 'decorated cycles' competition and other sporting events amongst others. This photograph was published in the Berkshire Chronicle on 29 June 1945. In this photo you can see the children that participated in the fancy dress parade.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A752.5a
Palmer Park Victory Day Fete, Fancy Dress Knight
A Victory Day Fete was held in Palmer Park. Entertainment included a fancy dress parade, a 'decorated cycles' competition and other sporting events amongst others. In this photo you can see one of the entries to the 'decorated cycles' competition where a resident dressed themselves and their bike as a knight and horse.
This photograph was published in the Berkshire Chronicle on 29 June 1945.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A752.5b
Princes Street, Reading
Princes Street is located opposite the Royal Berkshire Hospital. The local residents had their own piano for a right old knees up!
This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A745.4
Thames Avenue, Reading
The street party at Thames Avenue are attended by a pony and a donkey! You can see the River Thames and De Montfort Island at the far end of the road.
This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A746.3
Torrington Road, Whitley
This scene is from a street party held on Torrington Road, Whitley.
This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A745.7
Wantage Road, Reading
In this scene you can see the residents of Wantage Road enjoy their street party. Notice the bunting that would have been handmade from what ever fabric was available. Also the paper hats worn by children were homemade from newspaper pages.
This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A746.1
Wolseley Road, Coley
This scene is from a street party held on Wolseley Road in Coley where residents were joined by Mayor Newham and Councillor McIlroy.
This photograph was taken for the Berkshire Chronicle but was not published.
Museum object number REDMG : 1980.36.A745.6
