I was born in the mid-seventies in a housing estate to the north of Bristol.

I remember stories from my nan of her time in the Woman’s Royal Airforce (WAF), which as a profoundly rich and happy time in her life. I am afraid, that as a child, I didn’t always listen with the attention that her recollections deserved!

All through my childhood, there were still ruins in the centre of the city from the blitz. Whole streets remained levelled, the harbour side still had unkept ruins of factories and warehouses, there were ruined churches dotted around. They were just there, somewhere interesting to play. As I grew up, they became more sombre in my mind as I understood the dark times that they represented.

The Second World War might have ended thirty years before I was born, but it’s scars were still to be seen all over the country.

Indeed, it wasn’t until TWO THOUSAND AND SIX that the UK finally completed its debt repayments to the United States. The only country to fully pay is debt.

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The celebrations were a mix of war time songs with a couple of appropriate contemporary numbers thrown in.

Throughout the ceremony, videos were shown of the stories of survivors from the war. Children who had been evacuated, soldiers, airmen, and sailors, each with a tale of survival… many with tales of grief… all with tales of relief that the war was finally over and the threat of imminent death was finally removed.

In the middle of the celebrations, the King came onto the stage and read a speech.

It was insightful, funny at times, moving, and inspiring.

The speech was given at 9pm – the same time that his grandfather, George VI, gave his speech announcing the end of hostilities in Europe – Victory in Europe.

I’ve pulled a few things from the current King’s Speech that struck me as particularly noteworthy:

a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when countries stand together in the face of tyranny.

It seems that the golden light of democracy is being overshadowed by the rise of a fresh brood of dictators and wannabe tyrants – each promoting only their own personal interests, dressed as the national interest, in aggressive acquisitiveness. The shadow of xenophobia, greed, misogyny, and the fear of difference always has to be defended against.

Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”, JRR Tolkien

In real life, there may not be a Dark Lord who seeks to cover all the world in darkness, but there is an evil that grows in each generation. It takes a new flesh and seeks to dominate and destroy.

The King reminds us that more is achieved together than as individuals.

The Allied victory being celebrated then, as now, was a result of unity between nations, races, religions and ideologies, fighting back against an existential threat to humanity.

Europe was then culturally a “Christian” continent (in quotes because the actions of many people, then as now, were distinctly unchristian). There was a population of Jews, the fate of which is known and documented, yet Muslims, disabled, and LGBT people were all victims of the Nazis.

However, fighters from the British and French empires numbered many of different religions: Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, and so many others.

Women were allowed – required – to do their part, driving forward the course of equality.

I’m not saying that things were perfect then – or now – I’m just illustrating that victory needed collaboration between nations, “races”, religions, genders, ideologies (hey! We even had to team up with Communist Russia).

We must listen, learn and share, just as communities across the nation have been doing this week at local street parties, religious services and countless small acts of remembrance and celebration.

Victory in Europe was and is something to celebrate, but the cost in life is incalculable. My personal freedom – my very existence – is thanks to the millions involved in that conflict.

I do not forget it.

Remember, I grew up witnessing the scars of that conflict all over my home city.

We should also rededicate ourselves not only to the cause of freedom but to renewing global commitments to restoring a just peace where there is war, to diplomacy, and to the prevention of conflict.

Note “global commitments”. A little kingdom in the north west of the Atlantic ocean cannot “do” peace on its own.

celebrate and remember with an unwavering and heartfelt gratitude, the service and sacrifice of the wartime generation who made that hard-fought victory possible.

That echoes the poem read at every service of remembrance:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

“For the Fallen” (1914) by Laurence Binyon