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Wolverhampton
and World War II Peace Arrives By late Spring in 1945, Germany was defeated and in May hostilities in Europe officially ended. The war in the Far East against Japan ended three months later. The end of the war in Europe was greeted with a mixture of happiness, relief and thanksgiving in Wolverhampton. There were flags and bunting, bonfires and street parties. At St Peter's church there were six celebrations of Holy Communion. The Mayor, Councillor Phillipson, attended a service of thanksgiving at Darlington Street Methodist Church. There were also services of thanksgiving at other churches in the borough. An illuminated cross was erected on the tower of St Peter's Church and both the church and the Town Hall were illuminated by floodlights. Wolverhampton Magistrates consented to dances at the Civic Hall on the 8th and 9th May. They also agreed that alcoholic drinks could be sold between 8pm and 11pm. All six hundred tickets were sold within thirty minutes of going on sale.
Extract from Express and Star, 10th May 1945
On Sunday 13th May there was a Thanksgiving parade at Molineux Grounds. At the parade the Mayor said he hoped the spirit that the people of Wolverhampton had shown during times of strife would be used to make a greater town.
Extract from Express and Star, 14th May and 10th August 1945
In Bilston, the council planned for the Town Hall, cenotaph and central health clinic to be floodlit - as long as it did not cost more than £50! Street lighting was to be reinstated. A brass band would play in Hickman Park, with dances and music until 2.00am, a Punch and Judy show for children and other festivities.
Bilston Borough Council minutes 1945 (LB352) Similar arrangements were made in Bilston for celebrating Victory in Japan Day in August 1945:
Bilston Borough Council minutes 1945 (LB352)
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