Czech VE Day Weekend

The weekend of Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May 2005 saw a number of special events celebrating and commemorating the Second World war connection between Aston Abbotts and the former Czechoslovakia. This article was written for the Aston Abbotts Chronicle June 2005 issue by Peter Shorrock.

There are around 100 pictures of the event on this website. Click here if you want to see the pictures.

Radio Prague jounalist Kate Barrette made a very nice radio feature, which features Vic scott. You can hear her item (which is in English) by clicking here.

If you want to read more about the Czech Connection with Aston Abbotts please visit the Aston Abbotts website and click on the History link. You can also find more information about the Czechs in Bucks at the International Club website.

They came, They Saw, They went Away Very Happy

A report on the first weekend of events to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of VE Day, and this village's connection with the Czech & Slovak Republics, through the late President Benes having lived here during the war years.

I think we can say, without false modesty, that everything went off very successfully, and our Czech, Slovak and other visitors all had a most enjoyable weekend.

There was nearly a full house for both of the talks, which were enthusiastically received, and a full house for the first film show. The film show on Sunday night was less well attended, which was disappointing. Both main films (Dark Blue World on Friday - a film about Czech fighter pilots flying for the RAF during the Second World War - and Sunday's film, The Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich), were absolutely first class, and I would have expected each to receive 4 stars on the Radio Times film rating. The exhibition was well attended throughout the weekend, and although I must declare an interest, in that I am married to her, I thought that Clare produced a very professional and interesting display.

On Saturday afternoon, Colin Higgs and Vic Scott were nearly walked off their feet, taking groups of enthusiastic visitors round the village.

Sunday was of course the main day, and we were blessed with perfect English spring sunshine. The day started with a procession into the church, led by the British Legion and a number of Czech & Slovak veterans, with their respective standards being borne, and scouts providing a guard of honour. They were followed by the dignitaries from the Czech & Slovak Embassies, including the Czech Ambassador; and Sir Nigel Mobbs, the Lord Lieutenant of Bucks. The service was conducted by the Rev. Bob Willmott aided by a Czech Army chaplain, Mr. Holub. The church was so full that a number of us had to stand at the back, and others had to listen to it on the sound system outside.

After the service, the Czech Ambassador, Mr Stefan Füle, and the Slovak Deputy Head of Embassy, Mr. Radoslav Javorcik, each planted in a new flower bed in the churchyard, a rose bush that had been sent over from Lidice in the Czech Republic; and then jointly planted a lime tree on the Green.

Our visitors were then entertained to a buffet lunch in the garden of Oak Farm House, where, in addition to the delicious array of food prepared by a number of the ladies in the village, and the wine and drinks we had provided; we had the benefit of three barrels of Czech "Budweiser" beer and some wine supplied by the Czech Embassy, and an enormous container of goulash brought along by the Slovak Embassy. The latter is especially worthy of note, since the Slovak Embassy cook was taken ill on the preceding Saturday and was not available to cook this. It was therefore prepared by the Slovak Ambassador's wife herself, so as not to let us down!

At 1.00 p m the Aston Abbotts bell ringers treated us to a peal of bells on the St. James's Church bells.

After lunch, with the consent of Martin & Angela Olley of The Abbey, I was able to take a party of people from the two Embassies around the garden of their property, and show them the house in which their former president had lived, and the lime tree that he planted in 1943.

Then followed what was for some the high point of the day, the football match between the village team and a team from the two Embassies. The two sides were very evenly matched, and the game ultimately ended as a very diplomatic 3-3 draw. Our scorers were Phil Wheeton (2) & Andy Plested. I do not know who scored the Embassy goals, save that the Czech Ambassador opened the scoring for them. The Embassy team captain presented the village team with a very handsome cut glass dish. We hope that this will be the first of many games between the two sides, and we hope to buy a cup for which the two teams can play in future games.

Then at 4.00 pm came the icing on the cake, a flypast by the only remaining RAF Lancaster bomber which is still airworthy. Its pilot treated us to three flights over the village, one of which was directly over Oak Farm House, where it was hoped our visitors would be assembled. Unfortunately many of them were still at Wingrave Sports Ground, where the football match had ended late - but happily the pilot did a slow turn over the Ground so most of our visitors saw it there. Many villagers watched the flypast from The Green.

The Czech Connction committee wish to thank everyone who helped to make the day such a success.

~ Peter Shorrock

Click here to see the pictures of the event.