This 1945 VE--Day group, in the Catherine Street area off South Street, was supplied by Mr Peter Bailey, who was the boy standing at the far right.

An interesting detail is the bonfire in the centre, surmounted by a rather impressionistic effigy of Hitler, with his right arm raised in the Fascist salute.

As VE--Day was officially May 8, the day after the announcement of Germany's surrender, there was little time to build bonfires, but even by then, according to the 'Keighley News' of the period, "scenes reminiscent of Gunpowder Plot were enacted in many of Keighley's streets". Predictably, rain dampened outdoor street parties, but residents of Rawling Street at Ingrow contrived two trestle tables laden with potted meat sandwiches, jellies, custards, buns and a Victory cake.

Each child was given a bag of sweets, nuts and a penny, then they too burned Hitler in effigy, closing the day with roast potatoes and fireworks.

A bonfire at Riddlesden ---- described as "immense" - included a Hitler effigy on a gallows, and a collection raised £2 for the Red Cross. My own childhood memory is of a realistic Hitler dummy, complete with moustache, on spare land off Holmewood Road, Fell Lane. How we cheered when it went up in flames.