MARITIME VETERANS MARK 81 YEARS SINCE VE DAY

Maritime veterans mark 81 years since VE Day at Surrey care home. The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society is marking the 81^st anniversary of VE Day at its Surrey care home, Belvedere House, with a series of commemorations alongside residents with direct, living memories of the Second World War – including a former Wren who recalls the night that victory was declared.

Royal Alfred resident Elsie Morris remembers the celebrations clearly:

“I remember that in 1945, George and I lived just eight doors apart on the same road in Carshalton, though at the time neither of us knew where that would lead. George had volunteered for the Navy at 17 and spent those years serving on the Russian convoys and in the Mediterranean.

On VE Day our road held a celebratory street party. By coincidence, George happened to be home on leave and was able to join in the festivities. As a special treat, everyone at the party was given a Mars bar. George already had a soft spot for me, it seems. With my mother’s approval, he cheekily hid my Mars bar in the biscuit tin at home, leaving me to discover it later and wonder how on earth it had got there.

That small, mischievous gesture led to us becoming a couple and 70 years of marriage, before George sadly passed away in 2020 at the age of 95.”

Anne Macleod-Carey, a centenarian tenant and former Wren said of VE day:

“After seeing so many friends lost in the war, I was relieved to sign with my hands ‘Good Luck’ as HMS Belfast sailed away, now knowing my remaining friends would be safe.”

This year’s programme of commemorations designed to honour and celebrate the experiences of residents like Anne, will include a performance by Steve R, a singer and pianist, moments of quiet remembrance and shared storytelling among residents that will bring the community together in reflection. The home’s team will also be taking residents to the Village at War event at the Rural Life Living Museum in Farnham, a living, immersive experience that offers a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with history and honour a pivotal chapter in their lives.

VE Day holds particular significance at Belvedere House, where many residents have direct personal connections to the Second World War. Among them are former seafarers and members of the armed forces whose own stories bring history to life. Captain David Dominy, MA, Rcds, CEO of the Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society, said: “Many of the remarkable people in our care lived through the war and carry memories that the rest of us can only read about. Our commemorations here at Belvedere House, and our trip to the Rural Life Living Museum, are a reflection of what we strive to do every day: create an environment where residents feel truly seen, valued and at home. It is a privilege to mark this day alongside them.”

The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society has provided housing, residential and nursing care to former seafarers and their loved ones since 1865. Belvedere House holds the Veteran Aware Accreditation from the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), making it the first care home in the UK dedicated solely to seafarers to receive this recognition. The Society has also signed the Armed Forces Covenant, pledging that those who have served, and their families, are treated with fairness and respect.

The home’s pioneering Maritime Acquaint Training programme equips staff with a deeper understanding of the needs of seafaring residents, while maritime-themed décor, photography, and tailored activities, from sea shanty visits to trips to veteran hubs, help residents maintain a strong sense of identity and belonging.

For more information about the work of the Royal Alfred Seafarers Society, please visit the Facebook page or website.

Image: The Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society