VE Day 80: "It's important for us to remember during this time"

To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May 2025, we spoke to WAAF veteran Sybil Piper about her memories of the day Victory in Europe was declared, and how the Fund has supported her over the years.

Women's Auxiliary Air Force veteran Sybil Piper, aged 99, served as a special duties clerk at Bletchley, RAF Medmenham, during the Second World War. Sybil reflected on her memories of VE Day and what it means to mark the anniversary this year.

Sybil said: “A lot of the girls went up to London to celebrate. I stayed on camp, and we had a little singsong and a little supper together, very quietly and very sensibly. I wasn’t up London running around the streets – especially in uniform – I wouldn’t do that!”

Remembering her special duties role as being “top secret and very demanding”, Sybil recalled: “It was very frightening, I remember lots of discipline and correctness. I was only 18 when VE Day was declared.

“It’s important for us today to remember all those that gave their lives for their Queen and country.”

Our Community Engagement team supports Sybil in her local community, to meet other veterans and attend events. She said: “I have been introduced to local friends that I now have regular ladies’ lunches with, which I enjoy very much. My friends are always there to listen to me should I need them.

“It’s always a happy occasion; we have a lot of shared interests. It makes me feel connected to people of my age who also served in the WAAF, and we have a lot of similar experiences we can reminisce on. I’m very fortunate to have that support.”