CHILDREN at Saltford School had a special connection to commemorations of the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
They learned about the wartime story of Joy Trew, who is great-grandmother to two of the school pupil’s, Orson and Aria.
Joy, aged 98, who was born in Bristol and now lives in Wells, served in the WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) and worked at RAF Chicksands during the war.
There she listened to intercepted enemy messages in support of Bletchley Park, home of the code-breakers whose efforts shortened the war and are estimated to have saved millions of lives.
Joy attended the VE Day parade in London on May 5 and was shocked to find herself seated next to King Charles.
She told the BBC afterwards: “He shook my hand and asked me about my service and what I did and we talked about the parade – it was absolutely fabulous,” she said.
Joy was also interviewed on the Lorraine show on ITV, where she was presented with a Bletchley Park veterans’ badge and a certificate from Keir Starmer thanking her for her work in wartime.
Joy’s story has now been included in the book Lest We Forget – War and Peace in One Hundred British Monuments, by author and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop.
As part of their commemoration, Saltford School pupils saw a presentation by Phil Harding, of Saltford Environment Group, about life in the village during the Second World War.
They also observed a two-minute silence in memory of the six members of the Saltford community who lost their lives in the conflict.
Pictured above, Saltford School pupils, right, watching a presentation about war veteran Joy Trew, who sat next to the King during the VE Day parade
Below, Joy with author Dr Tessa Dunlop
