An Accrington veteran has reflected on his memories as the country marked the 70th anniversary of VE Day.
Harry Dickinson, 91, from Dill Hall Lane in Church, spent the day in London and rubbed shoulders with royalty at the celebrations to mark the end of the war in Europe.
Grandfather-of-nine Harry, who attended the event with his daughter Paulette Smith, said he was approached by the Prince of Wales in the marquee at St James’ Park.
He said: “I was sitting at the table in the marquee and he came over. He was going round speaking to people and he happened to come to my table.”
Harry, formerly of Burnley Road in Clayton-le-Moors, was a lance bombardier in the 186 Field Regiment attached to the 52nd Scottish Division after being called up aged 18 just after D-Day. He said he was in Bremen in Germany when they heard the war had finished.
He added: “When they delivered the news that the war was over, it turned out that the infantry had found a cellar full of wine. They found so much that they rang round the divisions to say if anyone wanted some to come get it so we had plenty.”
