Saturday 10 May 2008

V E Day


I feel the pipe smoking habit could very easily return. I have always enjoyed smoking a neat little Peterson, packed thoughtfully with some Erinmore Balkan Mixture or Players Navy Cut, but have often found myself feeling a little self conscious - unlike matey here ! Of course we can't smoke in the pub anymore so the prospect of upsetting somebody as you might a neighbour with a bonfire is no longer an issue. I had to try and capture this little scene at our local VE Day celebrations (news travels slow in these parts), the dancing was quite energetic and the beer tent was near at hand. Churchill made his speech at 15.00 hrs and all hell was let lose in the bell tower. Willys Jeeps ran amok and a Ferret complete with smoke grenades and machine gun was deployed by way of crowd control. You'll be pleased to know that the ARP warden won the fancy dress competition and left early with the larger of the land army girls.

6 comments:

Affer said...

I can't barely stop laughing! Wonderful photo....best of the year! But I can't help but think it looks a little less like VE Day celebrations than the 1943 British Open Synchronised Wind-Breaking Championships! All that Snoek and powdered egg...

Toby Savage said...

Top shot Diplo and how it encapsulates the Englishness of us all. I love these sort of do's and can't wait to participate in my own Jeep. Our Dad used to smoke a pipe loaded with Barney's Punchbowl. I was amazed to see an old Barney's can in an antique shop recently for seven quid!! Mum must have thrown away thousands.

Peter Ashley said...

I'm getting my Petersen out as we speak. And rummaging about for a health directive-less tobacco tin to put my shag in.

Peter Ashley said...

Not only that, but I've just blown the picture up and gazed at the lady in the green dress behind Flying Officer X. I don't suppose by any chance you've got her telephone number? I bet it's something like the one I had in Essex- Steeple Bumpstead 369.

Ron Combo said...

Great shot Diplo; you wouldn't have the telephone number of the chap in the dungarees by any chance, would you?

Diplomate said...

Ron - I'm afraid she's spoken for, the ARP warden claimed her as his prize for winning the fancy dress competition. By the way the truck's and OY Bedford and that's the back of a Willys hood at the top of the pic.