St James’ Church, Badsey, was a hive of activity on Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May, when upwards of 150 people and five dogs visited the church in the afternoon to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day on 8th May. The event was organised jointly by the Parochial Church Council and The Badsey Society, with funding gratefully received from Badsey and Aldington Parish Council. Free tea, coffee and biscuits were served throughout.
The church was decorated with bunting, balloons and flowers and the bell tower was open for anyone to visit the bells and chat with the bell ringers. During the course of the afternoon, several short films made over the last few years by Will and John Dallimore were shown. Will died in December 2024 after a
short illness and this was the church’s tribute to him, as he was a strong supporter of St James and the gardening group.
The Badsey Society held an exhibition with information on evacuees, prisoners of war, BBC Wood Norton and how the village celebrated VE Day in 1945 and 2020. There were also potted biographies of the 12 men who died during WWII and are named on the war memorial, plus newspapers from May 1945 and medals belonging to Badsey men, Frank Knight and Phil Sparrow. Andy Higgitt was on hand to record the memories of people who remembered VE Day 1945.
Meanwhile, in Wickhamford, Wickhamford Sports Club organised a “Party in the Park Family Fun Day” on Saturday 3rd May to commemorate the 80th anniversary.
Badsey photos courtesy of Tony Spinks, Maureen Spinks, Nigel Huddleston; Wickhamford photos courtesy of Tom Locke.
