VE DAY - "80 Years On" by Richard Davies

lynnironbridgewalk
May 8
2 min read

Today, on Thursday 8th May, it will be exactly 80 years since VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) was announced at 3pm and it will be marked across the UK and beyond with many commemorative events. We will commemorate this momentous milestone with our "80 Years On" VE walk on Saturday 10th May,

Looking back, as soon as war was declared the nation’s entire economy became totally focused on winning; strategic plans were actioned having an immediate impact on everyday life. Although the Gorge was not on “the front line” being well away from the blitzed areas, potential invasion beaches, and active fighter & bomber airfields, day-to-day living changed dramatically with every aspect of industrial capacity and available buildings being fully utilised for the “war-effort”.

Memorial Bridge where I will outline the fate of some of the men from the Second World War commemorated on the plaque below.

To acknowledge a remarkable era the 80 Years On event has been planned with an initial walk-&-talk from Coalbrookdale down to the Wharfage, over the Iron Bridge and along the Severn Way to Jackfield looking at various ways the Gorge responded in such troubled times together with some of the aftermath - and the air-raids will be mentioned.

I am not a historian, but I have always enjoyed more than just a passing interest in old buildings together with all the inherent social history and the V.E. anniversary provided a spur to assembling a new walk. It is also 20 years since the Walking Festival started. However, as a non-local, I rather anticipate learning lots more about the wartime Gorge from other walkers!

Unhappily, given a recent injury, I will have to finish at Jackfield. So, from there the pace will quicken as Sally, our co-leader, will lead on up to Broseley, past the site where a young U.S. pilot crashed and lost his life in 1944 and onto Benthall Hall. The walk will then loop along the Shropshire Way and beyond through the woods and return to Coalbrookdale.

I am looking forward to our walk and talk, although I will be doing less of the walking.

Richard