Epping Forest District Museum is welcoming Punch and Judy

On May 8, 1945, Nazi Germany surrendered to Allied Forces, signifying a formal end to nearly six years of war in Europe.

In response to the news, celebrations took place across the country. Streets were decorated in flags and bunting as music, dancing and communal meals took place.

However, while VE Day marked a victory in Europe, thousands of Armed Forces personnel were still fighting in the Far East. On August 15, 1945, Imperial Japan surrendered, bringing an end to the Second World War.

Large crowds gathered to celebrate the news of the end of the war in major cities like London, with people dancing, throwing confetti, and even climbing lamp posts.

Amy Stock explains how the museum is marking the end of the Second World War (Image: Epping Forest District Musuem) To commemorate 80 Years since the end of the Second World War, Epping Forest District Museum in Waltham Abbey have put together an exhibition titled: Calm and Courageous: The Second World War Home Front in the Epping Forest District.

The exhibition tells the stories of individuals involved in the war effort throughout the Epping Forest District of west Essex. It highlights several intriguing objects, from a map pinpointing the areas in which bombs fell in the area to a suitcase owned by a Norwegian Airman stationed at North Weald Airfield.

The exhibition will run until January 2026.

Alongside this exhibition, the Museum will be holding a ‘Punch and Judy at the Museum’ event on Saturday, September 20.

This event will bring history to life as on June 6, 1946, Epping and District’s Victory Carnival had a Punch and Judy show.

The 30-minute shows will be at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Tickets for the shows are £4 per child, free for adults.

There will also be a drop in ‘Make your own Yoyo’ activity in the People Gallery from 10.30am – 3.30pm, inspired by wartime children making their own fun and games when toys were scarce. Cost is £3 per child.

We will also have a collection of handling objects relating to Vera Lynn in the Treasure Gallery, wartime games in the Day to Day gallery, and a new display of the museum's Punch and Judy puppet collection, all of which is included in your ‘Pay if or what you feel’ entry to the museum!

Tickets for Punch and Judy at the Museum by visiting: ticketsource.co.uk/efdmuseum

• Amy Stock is from Epping Forest District Museum (efdmuseum.org.uk/).