May 2025 will see the 80th anniversary of WW2 and it will be marked by street parties in Britain which will evoke life as described in One Year One Night by SL Roman.

The Young Adult novel, published in the US and elsewhere last year, is set against the background of teenager Annie who has to step up and run the family business when her father goes off to war. She has to deal with a child evacuee and her own love pangs.

The conflict led to deep changes in British life affecting the provision of food, the lives of working women and the experience of more than 3 million children who were sent away from home to be safe from the Nazi bombing.

The end of the war in 1945 saw joyful celebrations with crowds thronging throughout London all night. Many gathered outside Buckingham Place to wave their victory flags.

A film was made which depicted Princess Elizabeth going out on the town with her sister Princess Margaret to join ordinary people who were letting their hair down for the first time in over 5 years.

Here in 1945 we can see a typical street party of typical British faces, dressed quite formally as was the fashion then.

The photo is courtesy of Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.

This year as well as the street parties, there’s to be 4 days of official VE Day events between 5 and 8 May this year including a flypast of military aircraft including the Red Arrows.

Meanwhile the authors of One Year One Night SL Roman – otherwise known as Sarah Onions and Laura Meloni are hard at work on their second wartime novel featuring teenager Annie and some of the original characters from OYON.

Note to editor. SL Roman is the pen-name of Sarah Onions and Laura Meloni Bywaters who both live in the borough of Kingston in SW London. Sarah was born in Brighton in southern England and Laura was born in Rome.

Now on sale everywhere: in the UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Year-Night-S-L-Roman/dp/B09GZPYRJ4 and in the US: https://www.amazon.com/One-Year-Night-2nd/dp/194715981X.Also, at Barnes and Noble in North America. And in Surbiton, SW London at The Regency bookshop.

Pix courtesy of IWM.