As a 1946 baby, I do not have any memories of the ending of the Second World War, but the papers and the television will provide plenty of coverage of the Victory in Europe Day to act as an antidote to the election news.
It must have been a cacophony of sound, a kaleidoscope of memories and a heady mix of emotions when at 3 o'clock on May 8th 1945, Winston Churchill announced the end of the war in Europe. Crowds would have gathered by the Town Hall in Midsomer Norton to hear the news and share the euphoria.
As the celebrations continued, far from the crowd and high up on the rooftop of St John's Church tower in Midsomer Norton, someone had climbed the hundred steps and made her or his mark on the day. As I have recently discovered, (or more truthfully, it was pointed out to me by a keen-eyed pupil from St John's Primary School), up on this tower rooftop is an intriguing message, etched or scratched into the lead facing of the floor. For most people, once they have climbed the 21.7 metres (71ft 2ins) tower, it is the view that they immediately wonder at. But there, for seventy years, has been a personal reminder of what VE Day meant to this person.
The simple wording on the lead sheet states: VICTORY VAW 8–5–45 DWLBWAJW
The initials are interesting and would seem to suggest the four belong to one family with its family name beginning with 'W'. Two possibilities and, of course, there may be more, are the Wills and Waugh families. There was, at this time, a bellringer and church member with the surname Wills and one of the two churchwardens in the mid-1940s was a John Wills. The Waugh family had worshipped at St John's for many years and had been generous benefactors.
There are many unanswered questions. Not only who, but why was this inscription made. Was it to give thanks for the ending of the war and to record those who fought in it or indeed died in it? Whatever and whoever, someone was moved to commemorate the occasion and make a lasting contribution to that extraordinary day in May 1945.