VE Day celebrations recreated on the Goodwood grid

At the end of World War II, street parties erupted up and down Britain. Rationing was temporarily suspended to allow the nation to let its hair down after those long, dark years of war, and that spirit was recreated here at Goodwood 80 years on to remember those joyous events.

The grid was transformed with tables and chairs for an outside picnic (and thank goodness the on and off rain we experienced throughout the weekend abated) so that the assembled families could eat, drink and dance while a band performed from a trailer.

That wasn’t the only vehicle that formed part of the parade. A host of military machines took to the circuit, including the iconic and instrumental Willys Jeep. Motorcycles were equally instrumental in the war effort, and a fleet of Nortons, Matchlesses and BSAs took to the circuit in their subdued matte green paint.

The VE Day celebrations were of course set post-war, so there were many civilian vehicles as part of the display. Austin Sevens, still fitted with their blackout headlight deflectors, mixed with buses and fire engines, all of them loaded with people getting into the spirit of the celebrations.

Goodwood itself was an intrinsic part of the war effort as the circuit is based on the former base of RAF Westhampnett. The circuit runs around the outside of the airfield which remains active for civilian activities to this day.

The party that broke out at the Revival celebrated the sense of joy and community that was unleashed on that significant day whilst never forgetting the sacrificed those that lived through the war. A poignant historical moment honouring that start of what would be come the Revival era.

Photography by Toby Whales and Rob Cooper.