Second World War impacted people in 'different ways', says Herefordshire historian on day of VE Day celebrations
Events are taking place across the country to mark VE day
A Herefordshire author who's heard from people who were around on VE Day in 1945 says it was 'extraordinary' listening to their stories.
VE Day celebrations are happening across the UK today and are also taking place throughout Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Bill Laws has written books on both the First and Second World Wars and people's memories in Herefordshire from it and has been involved with the Herefordshire Lore group, who he says have spoke to around over 200 people over the years about their experiences.
He says the Second World War had a real impact in the region and VE Day is one of celebration but also a chance to reflect and remember what happened.
"It affected lots of people in different ways," he said.
"I can remember a nurse saying we weren't allowed off duty until midnight, but we went down to the middle of the city of Hereford and it was still partying on, we stayed there for an hour, and then we had to go back on the ward.
"At the same time, there were a lot of soldiers who were still in the Far East, so although we got VE Day on this day, VJ (Victory over Japan) day didn't come until August."
Events to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day got underway on Monday, with thousands of people lining the streets of central London on Bank Holiday Monday to hear a performance of Churchill's speech and take in the military procession and a flypast.
Historian Mr Laws says it was a privilege getting to hear people's first hand stories of what was happening on VE Day and the Second World War all those years ago.
He said: "It is extraordinary when one of the first things you get told is, I really haven't got anything of interest to say.
"One of the early interviews we did, we heard from a woman who worked at a big munitions factory in Hereford, it had been there in the First World War as well, there was something like 2,000 women there working on the eve of VE Day.
"This woman told us she gave up working there on VE Day, finished on the munitions, went back to the farm and with the money she had saved she had bought a cow, it just showed how the war impacted different communities in different ways."
Further events in Herefordshire and Worcestershire also take place in the evening, with beacon lighting happening in Worcester's Fort Royal Park and Ross-on-Wye.