To mark this occasion we have delved into the village website’s archive and dusted off some fascinating footage for you. Most of it was presented to herald the “Wartime in Slingsby” exhibition of 2014. The links further below take you to Pathe news reels, some grim, many entertaining, and an audio recording of local memories.

Although Victory in Europe was publicly declared on 8 May 1945, it was actually 75 years ago today, 7 May, that the German surrender was received. To understand the joy and elation of VE Day, you need to understand the horror and hardship that went before. So here we look back.

Four people from the parish lost their lives during the war. Slingsby received over 120 evacuees. Soldiers were billeted in many of the farm buildings and used the village hall as their mess room. A few current residents remember these times, as you will hear.

Don’t forget to look out for a strange sight on the village green on Friday, see here.

Do your bit to support the Maypolers and help the village get over the pandemic; take a selfie, but STAY SAFE.

Two more warm days before the weather changes for the weekend. Time for a walk? Here’s one Carolyn and I did a couple of weeks ago. This is actually Walk No.6 from the 11 local walks which Geoff recently refreshed for locked down Slingsby folk needing ideas for their daily exercise. Find them all here: Slingsby Local Walks

This, one of the longer walks, took us about 3 hours, including the extension to Appleton-le-Street. The woods are beautiful in Spring before the trees come into full leaf. Appleton church looked a picture. The photos below show our progress through the walk.

If you are taking your permitted daily exercise on Friday, don’t forget to take in Slingsby’s Little Maypole.

Award winning apple juice delivered to your door. The Yorkshire Wolds Apple Juice Co. (based just outside Norton) used to supply the hospitality industry. Now they offer contactless delivery to homes across Ryedale.

They will deliver a minimum order of 6 bottles for £20 ,or 9 for £30 and a case of 12 is £40. Bear in mind that Slingsby falls outside their free delivery zone, so they will ask for a delivery charge of £3.

If you are looking for a bit of variety in your drinks orders, check out their website: https://yorkshirewoldsapplejuice.co.uk/ or phone Jane on 07779 161780.

In any normal year this morning would have seen bustling activity around the Green in Slingsby as months of planning come to fruition around the Maypole. But, of course, you’ll recall that last summer we heard that the May Bank holiday would be moved to Friday 8^th May, to coincide with the 75^th anniversary of VE Day.  So, had 2020 been a normal year, we would be looking forward to street parties, fancy dress and gatherings of all sorts across the country. But of course, this is very far from a normal year. Amid the isolation and sadness, there are still a few things to be celebrated.

On Friday, Slingsby folk venturing out cautiously may find that the Little Maypole has appeared on the Green. What else will Slingsby be doing to celebrate the VE Day anniversary? Decorating houses, picnicking in gardens, following the virtual scarecrow trail?

Keep watching the Slingsby Village website to find out more.

[Photo by Richard Flint. No apologies for showing again one our favourite photos of Maypole dancing in Slingsby, taken a good few years ago.]