Want your VE Day party to go with a bang? Invite the Royal Marines | Nostalgia

With the help of my late friend Steve West, a bit of a computer wizard, I’ve tried to recreate the scene at Eastney as it was 75 years ago tomorrow night.
By Bob Hind
Published 6th May 2020, 16:29 BST
Updated 6th May 2020, 16:31 BST
How the junction of Eastney and Bransbury Roads, Portsmouth, looked on VE Day night... after the Royal Marines had had a little fun. Picture and artwork: Bob Hind/Steve WestHow the junction of Eastney and Bransbury Roads, Portsmouth, looked on VE Day night... after the Royal Marines had had a little fun. Picture and artwork: Bob Hind/Steve West
How the junction of Eastney and Bransbury Roads, Portsmouth, looked on VE Day night... after the Royal Marines had had a little fun. Picture and artwork: Bob Hind/Steve West

For this is what happened on VE Day 1945 when Royal Marines from the barracks in Cromwell Road decided to set Eastney alight. It is of course on the corner of Eastney Road and Bransbury Road.

Some time ago I interviewed the late Lily Rump (née Cowdrey). She lived at 6, Bransbury Road at theend of the war and she told of the events on the evening of May 8, 1945.

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She said that the Royal Marines and sailors were drinking in the Cumberland Tavern, Eastney Road, when it was decided to light a bonfire and take the piano out into the road for a sing-song around it. Anything that was not bolted down was taken to the fire, park benches were the first candidates.

Staff and their children from St James's Hospital, Milton, Portsmouth, celebrate VE Day with a peace party.Staff and their children from St James's Hospital, Milton, Portsmouth, celebrate VE Day with a peace party.
Staff and their children from St James's Hospital, Milton, Portsmouth, celebrate VE Day with a peace party.

On the left is the Cumberland Tavern, always called Charlie Hurdle’s, after the popular landlord. It closed many years ago and is now apartments. Across the road is the Fort Cumberland Arms which still trades although closed for the duration of coronavirus. Amazing that pubs stayed open throughout the war but are all closed now.

A PEACE PARTY IN HOSPITAL GROUNDS

I do not know who this VE Day photograph belongs to but I will credit them if they let me know.

It is, I believe, of children of staff from St James’s Hospital, Milton. As can be seen, the trees are helping to keep the hot sun off those gathered for the peace party. I am sure some of you must recognise yourselves among the children. I imagine this scene is no more, with all the building that has taken place in the grounds.

Some Portsmouth councillors from past years have been named. Picture: Barry Cox collection.Some Portsmouth councillors from past years have been named. Picture: Barry Cox collection.
Some Portsmouth councillors from past years have been named. Picture: Barry Cox collection.

COUNCILLORS IDENTIFIED

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The photograph of the Portsmouth councillors and officials I published last Tuesday have been named. Thank you to all who replied.

So, in the back row, left to right, is the lord mayor Councillor Fred Warner followed by his wife Iris and Cllr Ian Gibson, leader of the council who was also a lord mayor at one time. In the front row on the left is city secretary Ron Tweed. However, we still do not have a name for the man on the right. Picture: Barry Cox collection.

Related topics:EastneyNostalgia

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