PEOPLE of Middlewich came together on Friday and joined forces with neighbouring towns to commemorate the 70th anniversary of VE day.


With the momentous occasion 70 years ago fresh on the minds of Middlewich folk, the Guardian spoke with an elderly couple who have lived in the town all of their lives to find out what it was like celebrating the end of the war in Middlewich.


Frank and Ethel Arrowsmith, both 83, grew up in Middlewich and have lived on George VI Close since they married 60 years ago.


The couple recalled what the town was like during the Second World War and how it celebrated Victory Day.


Frank said: “We lived on Newton Bank and all the troops were on the Woodlands, that’s where they were billeted. Some of them were put up in the Old Star cinema as well.We would have been only about 12 then but I can remember it."


Frank describes his VE Day experiences: “When the war came to an end We built a bonfire on Newton Bank and we walked right up the street with the band playing. A man called Bob Godfrey lived on the corner and he was in the band that led the parade.


“The procession went right up the street and everyone who lived on Newton Bank, Nantwich Road, and all around there came out and celebrated.


“We had a right good do and a street party on Pinfold Lane. 


"We had tables all up the middle of the road and everybody came out and joined in.”


The couple also spoke of how much the town has changed since the wartime when only the doctor owned a car – a Morris Eight.


Frank added: “It’s strange to think back to then. Middlewich was so different. We had one car in the whole town which was owned by Dr Murphy, I think it was a Morris Eight.


“The air raid shelter we used was where they’ve now built a Lidl. It’s unbelievable to think that years later they would build a German supermarket there.”