The UK
Parliament webpages state the death toll for the military was approximately
384,000, while that for civilians was around 70,000, making a total of around
454,000 people who died during the conflict.
https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/olympic-britain/crime-and-defence/the-fallen/ At the time, in 1939, the population of the UK was around 40 million people, so this amounts to just over
1% of the population.
On 8th May 1945, Loughborough folk, along with the rest of the country, celebrated with street parties across the town. Despite this being a time of food rationing (amongst other things), people still managed to rustle up plenty of food to feed the excited children who were sitting at the trestle tables in the middle of the street! Of course, celebrations were bitter-sweet – wonderful that the war in Europe was finally over, but war was continuing in Japan (finally coming to an end in August 1945), and many families had lost loved ones during the conflict.
In 1995
the people of Loughborough again celebrated VE-Day, this time the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe. Events took place in the town over
the weekend of 6th and 7th of May, with a concert in the
town hall on the Saturday evening, and a 1940s dance was held on the university
campus. On the Sunday there were a variety of memorial services, a parade, a
carillon recital, and a concert by the Hathern Band!
This
year, 2020, the 75th anniversary of VE-Day, there were to have been
numerous events across the whole of Loughborough, and I’m sure there were many
private events and street parties planned. However, on 23rd March 2020,
the Prime Minister decreed that due to the presence of coronavirus, we were all
to stay home and not meet with people outside our household until told we
could. So, VE-Day celebrations have been for the most part cancelled.
Although, people living on Middleton Place – a street I’ve blogged about before – have been invited to have a picnic in their front garden, at the same time as their neighbours are having a picnic in theirs! No danger of getting any closer than the requisite 2 metres, but a chance to at least see people who they might not have seen for 6 weeks or so! And, maybe a chance to dress up a bit, and put out a bit of bunting? I know some people think we should no longer be commemorating wars *, but surely in these strange times, we need an excuse to party.
Anyway,
back to Middleton Place **, it’s a street that’s predominantly made up of
Victorian terraced villas, and is fairly typical of house-building of that
time. What it also has, though, is quite a lot of infill, which has taken place
across quite a number of periods, so I thought I’d just give you an indication of
which houses existed before the Second World War, which were around during the
war, and new ones that appeared up until 1962 (restricted to these years because
the street directories I would normally consult are locked away in the library,
so I’m relying on the only ones I actually have copies of). I’ve also indicated
who lived here, but not made any attempt to consolidate the names, so they
appear exactly as they do in the directories. I’ve also included names from
some census returns.
Inhabitants of
Middleton Place pre-Second World War
House
number
|
Inhabitants
in 1901 (Directory)
|
Inhabitants
in 1911 (Census)
|
Inhabitants
in 1927 (Directory)
|
1
|
There has never been
a No.1
|
There has never been
a No.1
|
There has never been
a No.1
|
3
|
F. Harris
|
Anthony Judge &
Mary Judge
|
J.A. Rue
|
5
|
T. Hope
|
Charles Robert
Masters & Elizabeth Masters
|
Mrs Masters
|
7
|
H. Biddles
|
Hugh Osmond Payne
& Florence & Eric Payne
|
S. Hill
|
9
|
F.G. Mee
|
Frederick Neale &
Clara, Frederick Neale, & Robert Henry Mould
|
H. Antill
|
11
|
G. Hall
|
William Henry Clarke
& Ruth & Edward Leslie Clarke
|
F. Philp
|
13
|
J. Start
|
Charles Sinister
& Sarah & Leonard Sinister & Harriet Swallow
|
F. Neale
|
15
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
17
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
19
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
21
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
23
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
45
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
47
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
49
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
51
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
53
|
J. Frisby
|
Samuel Charles Laws
& Ellen Laws
|
F. Keightley
|
55
|
Rev. T. Richards
|
Lucy Nightingale
& Thora May Bancroft
|
O. Orchard
|
57
|
Miss White
|
George Loudon &
Jessie, Margaret Norton, & Hugh Kerr Loudon & Margaret Kerr
|
D. P. Grudgings
|
59
|
R.H. Taylor
|
Thomas Porter &
Evelyn Porter
|
T. Porter, jnr.
|
61
|
Mrs Carver
|
Albert Ernest Clifton
& Ada Emma Clifton
|
Mrs Cradock
|
63
|
W. Dennis
|
William George
Spooner & Nelly Maud Spooner & Lucy Harrison
|
B. Green
|
65
|
J. Percy
|
Bertie Trevor Davies
& Dorothy Wynne Davies
|
J.F. Driver
|
67
|
J. Swinden
|
None listed
|
J.L. Godsell
|
69
|
Not yet built
|
Not yet built
|
Not yet built
|
71
|
Not yet built
|
Not yet built
|
Not yet built
|
73
|
Not yet built
|
Not yet built
|
Not yet built
|
77
|
Mrs Smith
|
Thomas Porter &
Sarah Porter & Edith Porter
|
Mrs Porter
|
79
|
E. Stapleton
|
Gerald S. Grudgings
& Mary C. Grudgings, & Clara McHugh, Herbert McHugh & Dorothy
McHugh
|
G. Grudgings
|
81
|
T. Allen
|
Arthur Tucker, &
Mary Ellen, Ida Mary & Arthur Leslie Tucker
|
S. Champkin
|
83
|
A. Moss
|
Frank Newton Nield,
& Edyth Annie & Mary Isabel Nield, & Nellie Aderlaide Masterton
& Teresa Williams
|
None listed
|
85
|
Not yet built
|
John White, &
Sarah Elizabeth, Elsie Adela, John Leslie, Sidney Charles, Henry Kirk &
Ronald White
|
J. McKeon
|
87
|
Not yet built
|
Christopher Lucas
& Amelia Lucas
|
A. Telfer
|
20
|
Not built until 1986
|
Not built until 1986
|
Not built until 1986
|
22
|
Not yet built
|
Not yet built
|
F. Smith
|
24
|
Not yet built
|
Not yet built
|
A.E. Brown
|
Inhabitants of
Middleton Place in 1939 and 1941, during the Second World War
House
number
|
Inhabitants
in 1939 (Directory)
|
Inhabitants
in 1939 (Register)
|
Inhabitants
in 1941 (Directory)
|
1
|
There has never been
a No.1
|
There has never been
a No.1
|
There has never been
a No.1
|
3
|
J.A. Rue
|
Elsie Bass & Roy
& Brian Bass
|
E.R. Bass
|
5
|
E. Brown
|
Elland Ganderton (?)
& Louisa Ganderton (?)
|
None listed
|
7
|
E.R. Bass
|
None
|
A. Hunt
|
9
|
E. Pepper
|
Edward Pepper &
Ellen T. Pepper, & Alice E. & Sadie Frier
|
E. Pepper
|
11
|
W. Pepper
|
R.G. Pepper
|
W. Pepper
|
13
|
F. Neale
|
Frederick Neale &
Clara Neale
|
F. Neale
|
15
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
17
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
19
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
21
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
23
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
45
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
47
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
49
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
51
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
53
|
E. Martin
|
Edgar S. Martin &
Mabel Martin
|
E. Martin
|
55
|
Mrs Allsopp
|
Fanny Allsopp &
Hanna Hartnell (?)
|
Mrs Allsopp
|
57
|
J. Taylor
|
Joseph Taylor &
Jane & Mary Taylor
|
J. Taylor
|
59
|
T. Porter
|
Thomas Porter &
Evelyn Porter & Irene Shetton
|
T. Porter
|
61
|
J. Roberts
|
Eddwin T. Webster,
Ida Webster, & Michael W.R.Webster
|
E.J. Webster
|
63
|
D.C. Vickers
|
Donald Vickers &
Doris & Brian Vickers & Kate Beaton
|
D.C. Vickers
|
65
|
R. Ashby
|
Reuben Ashby &
Gertrude Ashby
|
R. Ashby
|
67
|
J.L. Godsell
|
Gertrude A. Godsell
|
Mrs Godsell
|
69
|
W.W. Street
|
William W. Street
& Elizabeth Street
|
W.W. Street
|
71
|
Not yet built
|
Edith M. Glover
|
None listed
|
73
|
Not yet built
|
? Winters & Doris
L. Winters
|
Not yet built
|
75
|
None listed
|
None listed
|
None listed
|
77
|
Mrs Smith
|
John A. Smith,
Elizabeth B. Smith & Sylvia M., Constance E. & Margaret J. Smith
& Charles Been
|
Mrs Smith
|
79
|
W.A. Edwards
|
William A. Edwards,
Gladys Edwards & Clara Edwards & Daisy Kellett (?)
|
None listed
|
81
|
G.R. Horspool
|
Frank Rutter &
Doris E. Rutter
|
F. Rutter
|
83
|
W. Cartwright
|
William Cartwright
& Rosanna Cartwright
|
W. Cartwright
|
85
|
J. McKeon
|
James McKeon &
Anna McKeon
|
J. McKeon
|
87
|
A.Telfer
|
Alexander D. Telpher
& Alice Maud Telpher
|
A. Telfer
|
20
|
Not built until 1986
|
Not built until 1986
|
Not built until 1986
|
22
|
Mrs Smith
|
Fanny Smith &
Gillian M. Smith
|
Mrs Smith
|
24
|
J.W. Shaw
|
John W. Shaw &
Mary J & Reginald Shaw
|
J.W. Shaw
|
Inhabitants of Middleton Place in the Post-war
Years, 1951 & 1962
House
number
|
Inhabitants
in 1951 (Directory)
|
Inhabitants
1962 (Directory)
|
1
|
There has never been
a No.1
|
There has never been
a No.1
|
3
|
E. Bass
|
Elsie Bass
|
5
|
J.L. Beaton
|
John L. Beaton
|
7
|
L. Middleton
|
None listed
|
9
|
E. Pepper
|
Edward Pepper
|
11
|
T.S. Dixon
|
Walter J. Pepper
|
13
|
G.A. White
|
Margaret M. Trotter
|
15
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
17
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
19
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
21
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
23
|
Not built until 1977
|
Not built until 1977
|
45
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
47
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
49
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
51
|
Not built until 1959
|
Not built until 1959
|
53
|
J. Pringle (Bottom
Flat)
S. H. Pilkington (Top
Flat)
|
Colin I. Boniwell
|
55
|
H.E. Unwin
|
Stanley J. Holyfield
|
57
|
F.M. Taylor
|
Jane Taylor
|
59
|
T. Porter
|
Evelyn Porter
|
61
|
R. Orgill
|
Michael E. Cox
|
63
|
D.C. Vickers
|
Brian J. Vickers
|
65
|
R. Ashby
|
D. S. Evans
|
67
|
G.A. Godsell
|
Gertrude A. Godsell
|
69
|
S.E. Cheetham
|
Charles E. Cheetham
|
71
|
J.P. Sutton
|
Eric Briers
|
73
|
A.Winters
|
Amos Winters
|
75
|
None listed
|
None listed
|
77
|
E.B. Smith
|
Stanley B. Slater
|
79
|
R.E.T. Hack
|
Richard A. Sutton
Michael G. Lee
|
81
|
W. Blenkinsop
|
Winifred Brown (81b)
|
83
|
R. Cartwright
|
Rosanna Cartwright
|
85
|
F.C. Hickling
|
Francis Hickling
|
87
|
A.D. Telfer
|
Alice M. Telfer
|
20
|
Not built until 1986
|
Not built until 1986
|
22
|
F. Smith
|
Albert E. Bowler
|
24
|
A.E. Brown
|
Annie Hutt
|
And to finish off the post here's some photographs of decorated houses along the street on VE-Day 2020:
Finally, nothing to do with Middleton Place, but the parish church invited the people of Loughborough to record themselves singing along to 'We'll meet again', which those clever people at the church put together to produce a 'choir'! Here's a link!
And now, I shall leave you! Until we meet again!
Finally, nothing to do with Middleton Place, but the parish church invited the people of Loughborough to record themselves singing along to 'We'll meet again', which those clever people at the church put together to produce a 'choir'! Here's a link!
And now, I shall leave you! Until we meet again!
See:
*This link
**See related blogposts: A society wedding; Knocking on the door to the past and Winter walk around Charnwood Water
You are welcome to quote passages from any of my posts, with appropriate credit. The correct citation for this looks as follow:
Dyer, Lynne (2020). VE-Day in Loughborough. Available from: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2020/05/ve-day-in-loughborough.html [Accessed 8 May 2020]
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Lynne
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