Sharing her memories of the Victory in Europe (VE) Day celebrations, is veteran Joyce Wilding, a guest on Voices of Victory, the Army Benevolent Fund’s special podcast to mark the 80th anniversary of this incredible occasion. During the Second World War, Joyce, now 100, had volunteered to join the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY), and then became a member of Special Operations Executive (SOE).
Colin Thackery (95) is a Pensioner at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, an ABF partner charity and recalls his childhood during the Blitz. Colin went on to win TV’s Britain’s Got Talent in 2019 and will perform as part of the 80th anniversary celebrations on 8th May 2025.
Podcast host, Harry Bucknall, is also joined by eminent historians and authors, Lord Andrew Roberts, and Julie Summers, to discuss the impact of the Second World War on ordinary men and women, and on the political and economic state of Britain.
It was to provide help for returning service personnel and their families that the Army Benevolent Fund was established by the government in 1944. Julie adds: “People like the Army Benevolent Fund and the Royal British Legion had to step in when it wasn’t possible for people to make their own way, because there simply weren’t the jobs, the infrastructure, the housing, or the knowledge, after years of war planning, of how to run a civil society. “
Reflecting on the significance of VE Day today. Andrew Roberts says: “80 years on…it strikes me that VE Day is genuinely just as relevant as it’s ever been, and I would argue, much more relevant than it’s been for many years.”
Thank you to all our guests who joined Harry to salute the brave veterans of the Second World War generation and pay tribute to their service.