History
By Peter Ibbett
After VE Day At Potton
Potton History Society has captured some of the 2020 VE day activities in the town, such as the one at Tysoe’s, for its archives. Wartime did not end on 8th May 1945 and it took until February 1947 for a Supper & Dance to be organised by the local Forces Fund for over 150 men of Potton in the Parish Room who had served their country. Four had won medals for gallantry and were given £5 each :- W. Charter (who won the D.S.M); Arthur Pickering (Croix de Guerre); Frank Titchmarsh (M..M.) and George Wildeman (B.E.M.). The total collected by the Forces Fund in Potton during the war years was £3340 7s 1d. from which £3275 10s was paid out to serving members. £20 was set aside for the four medallists and the balance in hand was £44 17s 3d from which the dinner and dance were paid for. Ten Potton men were killed and another ten had been prisoners of war. Les Dennis’s band played during the supper and afterwards for the dance, which everyone enjoyed. The band in the photograph consisted of Len Boston, Benny Baker; Wesley West & Les Dennis. More information about VE Day at Potton can be found on the societies web site or on its facebook page:- www.pottonhistorysociety.org.uk
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