VE Day, Patched Narratives

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Rag Rug by Jill Denton

 

Today is the eightieth anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, May 8th 1945, ending the Second World War.

A new exhibition on this subject, PATCHED NARRATIVES by Sarah Gray, Laura Roberts Bevan, Sarah Newson, Marcia Lois Riddington, Linda Bassett and Jill Denton, opens today at Townhouse Spitalfields and runs until 23rd May.

The textile artists embroidered their family histories onto jackets rescued from landfill, often sewing as a group and chatting as they worked. Their conversations became part of their stitched narratives, woven into the fabric of these textiles which include jackets, a work coat, a rag rug, a quilt and a tablecloth.

 

Magdalena by Sarah Gray

‘Magdalena was my great grandmother, a mother to four. Tom, the youngest was a talented and bright pilot in the RAF of twenty-four years old. There are five poppies embroidered on her jacket for each of the five years that passed without news of him, missing in France since 1941. Finally he was confirmed dead, identified by the inscription on his watch found next to his burnt-out plane.’

Back of Magdalena by Sarah Gray

Linda by Linda Bassett

‘This tells the story of how my mum and dad met in 1944. My dad had been wounded on a three man gun, the other two died. Dad was recuperating in Devon where his sister was in the Land Army. He took her to a dance where he met her friend Joan, my mum. After the war, they got married and found lodgings in Bovey Tracey, my home town from where I write this eighty years later.’

Linda by Linda Bassett

Marcia by Marcia Riddington

‘I wanted to demonstrate that with a little imagination and a few basic sewing skills an unloved garment could be given a new life. All of the haberdashery and fabrics were thrifted over the years so nothing new was used.’

Back of Marcia by Marcia Riddington

Starlings Family by Sarah Newson

‘My jacket is about the impact of war on people that I knew, their hopes for peace and their sorrow, trauma and loss. I have a quote in the sleeve, Every war is a war against children. My mother’s brother died aged twenty-three as a commando in Italy in April 1945. He was an art student at the Slade, a while life unlived. My mother and her brother were teenagers at the time and experienced things which have haunted them for their whole lives – their photograph is on the back of the jacket. ‘

Back of Starlings Family by Sarah Newson

Margaret by Sarah Gray

‘When VE Day was announced Margaret was a teacher and working mother of two sons, one of whom was my father. Her husband, my grandfather was a pharmacist and in the Home Guard. They navigated the Blitz in London and kept chickens.’

Back of Margaret by Sarah Gray

Ernest by Laura Roberts Bevan

‘My grandfather Ernest Read lost his life in 1942 while serving in the Royal Navy. He left behind a devoted wife and four young daughters. Probably not much celebrating was had on May 8th 1945. I did ask my grandmother about this once but she couldn’t talk about it, it just brought tears to her eyes. Across the jacket is an appliqued quote, In war there are no winners.’

Back of Ernest by Laura Roberts Bevan

Tray cloth by by Laura Roberts Bevan

‘8th May 1945, Peace in Europe, Got the flags out and fairylights. Had bonfire. Auntie and Uncle came also Auntie Connie and Uncle Frank. Stayed up til 3 o’clock in the morning. Had good party. Went to Mr Headlands this morning with Dad. Gave me 10/-. Went through London. Flags everywhere. Crowds everywhere.’ Les Roberts

Les Roberts’ Victory in Europe Day Diary, 1945