‘We danced the victory waltz in the street, 40 of us, it was lovely’
Former Coleraine mayor Toye Black (90) lived in rural Co Londonderry during the war. Toye, a former school principal, and her husband Robert had five children before he passed away. She lived with her second husband, Sam, in Portstewart until he died. They have 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She remembers the Army camp across the street from her family home.
“During the war we lived in Agivey, near Coleraine, with my mum, Ida, and dad, David,” she says. “They owned a shop and a farm in the Diamond.
“Because we were living out in the country, we had very little experience with bombs and sirens that you would have had to endure in the cities. We were isolated. We didn’t really know much about what was going on apart from the fact that there were rations books and coupons for the shop and soldiers around.
“There was a camp just opposite our house at the time. There was an aerodrome beside us also, where the soldiers came to learn how to fly planes. In the camp the American and British soldiers would learn how to build bridges across the River Bann. There was always plenty of stuff happening.
“In those days when working in the shop I remember the American soldiers coming in. They always gave us ‘candy’. It was strange hearing the accents. I used to iron the trousers for the sergeants for money. My mother always told them not to pay me, but they would slip me money or candy for payment.”
She says she remembers the pure joy she felt as her community came to the streets to celebrate the end of war.
“We didn’t have a TV in those days,
we had a wireless radio where we got all our news,” she says. “I remember the happiness and joy in everyone on the day the war was declared over.
“Everyone gathered out at the front of my parents’ shop and were dancing on the road. Someone turned up with an accordion, another fella had a drum and there was great music. We were out waltzing in the middle of the street, around 40 of us.
“I was 15-years-old and remember I was dancing the victory waltz with a fella called John Pyper. Before that I had danced with female dance partners in school, so it was something special. I can still remember his face. I must have had a notion for him.
“I remember looking around and seeing people so happy, clapping and singing. It was lovely. In those days there was great community spirit. There was no talk of religion back then.
“On this VE day I will say a little thankyou that I am as well as I am and I will recall with pleasure my parents and all the people who gathered together on the road that night in joy.”