VE75 Day: Residents turn out to 'hail' street hero party organiser Matthew Ashfield

DRIVER FOR ATHERSTONE TAXIS COLLECTS HIS OSCA (OWEN STREET CELEBRATIONS AWARD) FOR YESTERDAY

OUT-OF-WORK Atherstone cabbie Matthew Ashfield picked up an unexpected OSCA yesterday in the middle of the nation celebrating the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

His neighbours offered a ringing endorsement of his organisational skills and presented him with the Owen Street Celebrations Award.

Not naturally known for his DJ-ing skills, he donned a fancy dress wig and banged out the tunes of yesteryear to entertain the "troops" from a speaker lodged on top of his dustbin.

He told Nub News in an interview you can see here there has "not been much call" for his line of work – a driver with Atherstone Taxis – since the March 23 lockdown.

"I've had to make do with jobs around the house," he said. "But I was happy to do this for the street."

There were plenty of Union Flag bunting in evidence, drinks and scones, fresh cream and jam as the residents lapped up the musical entertainment while reminiscing about a bygone age few livde through.

The neighbours kept their distance as the music pervaded the air – living proof Atherstone can throw a party in their front gardens without breaking social distancing restrictions.

This was another Nub News VE75 picture special, summing up the day.

Owen Street was typical of the neighbourly bon-homie throughout the town.

Yesterday's VE75 event began with a poignant two-minute silence led by the Prince of Wales at Balmoral and featured touching stories from the war as well as special performances, followed by extracts from Winston Churchill's speech on May 8, 1945 announcing the war was over.

That 3pm broadcast was followed by a national toast to remember all who fought in WWII.

At 9pm, the Queen told the nation "never give up, never despair" in a poignant national address 75 years on from the end of the war in Europe.

Footnote: If you have a VE Day story or some party pictures to show off, then mail them to [email protected] and we will get them onto the Atherstone Nub News site.