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WATCH: Memories of VE Day come flooding back for veterans at Dudley event

Memories of VE Day came flooding back when the Mayor of Dudley welcomed military veterans for a special event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of hostilities in Europe.

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The 25 ex-service personnel enjoyed tea and cakes with Mayor Margaret Aston in her parlour.

Old music from the 1940s rang out in the background as the servicemen from the Royal British Legion and Royal Air Force Association reminisced about their time in the military.

Councillor Aston spoke to pay tributes to the efforts of armed forces personnel, describing their work as 'outstanding.'

She said: "In this borough we are very proud to be one of the first local authorities to sign the community covenant to support the work of our armed forces past and present."

Gordon Willetts, aged 88, was one of the servicemen attending the tea and cake event on Tuesday, having served with the Worcestershire Regiment in India between January 1945 and September 1947.

He spent the first nine years of his life in Cresswell in Derbyshire before moving to Dudley with his family where he attended the Halesowen Road School - known locally as The Iron School.

After leaving school he volunteered for the RAF and was put on the reserve list, but was told he was not needed and he joined the Army instead.

He remembered the end of the war in Europe as he was with his regiment in Crickhowell, Wales having returned from India.

Mr Willetts, who lives in The Broadway, Dudley, said: "The Army took us all on a day out to Tenby, the local seaside resort, to celebrate the end of the war. It was wonderful because we knew what everybody had gone through. I think people these days are living a good life compared to what we went through."

John Deane, aged 78, of Maygrove Road, Kingswinford, was a leading aircraftman in the RAF having joined in 1955 and spent time in Habbaniyah, Iraq before being sent to Cyprus during the Suez crisis.

He was eight-years-old when victory was declared in Europe and recalled an atmosphere of celebration in the streets.

He said there was a big bonfire in the road and a firework display in Laurel Crescent.

He added: "It was an atmosphere of celebration and excitement that the war was all over. It is nice to have these little get togethers and Dudley Council is very good to us."

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