BOB's BLOG - Friday 9 May 2025

Seriously interesting musings on all things brunch & beyond.

VE Day: 80 Years of Remembrance in Putney

As we commemorated the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day yesterday on May 8th, 2025, our thoughts turn to Putney's unique wartime story. Here along Upper Richmond Road, where Tried & True Cafe now welcomes the community, the echoes of celebration from that spring day in 1945 still resonate through local memory and the fabric of our neighborhood.

Putney's War Experience

Putney bore witness to the full impact of the London Blitz. The district's position along the Thames made it a navigational landmark for German bombers heading toward central London, resulting in significant local damage. The railway bridge was repeatedly targeted, and several bombs fell near what is now Upper Richmond Road. In October 1940, a parachute mine devastated several buildings just off Putney High Street, claiming lives and forever changing the area's landscape.

One of the most notable local stories involves the Putney Rowing Club, which suffered a direct hit in 1941. Despite this devastation, club members continued to train whenever possible, embodying the resilient spirit that defined the era. Their determination became a symbol of local pride, with one member later joining the celebrated 1948 Olympic rowing team.

The area around Upper Richmond Road served as home to several civil defense posts, with air raid wardens operating from what was then the Railway Tavern. Local residents recall how the basement of the large Victorian building (now housing several businesses including our cafe) was used as an impromptu shelter during raids.

VE Day in Putney

When victory finally came, Putney erupted in celebration. Historical accounts describe spontaneous street parties along Upper Richmond Road, with tables stretching the length of several blocks. The Spotted Horse pub reportedly ran dry by evening as residents toasted the end of European hostilities. In a touching gesture, local shopkeepers pooled their meager rations to provide a special feast for neighborhood children.

One cherished local anecdote tells of a piano being wheeled out from a home near the junction with Putney Hill, with revelers singing well into the night. The celebrations culminated with a bonfire on Putney Heath, visible from much of southwest London.

Preserving Putney's Wartime Legacy

Today, traces of Putney's wartime past remain if you know where to look. Several buildings still bear faint scars from shrapnel damage. The memorial at St. Mary's Church honors local residents who never returned home, while Putney Vale Cemetery contains numerous Commonwealth war graves.

As the last veterans and witnesses pass away—most now in their late 90s or older—the responsibility for preserving these memories falls to our community. Local history projects at Putney Library have collected oral histories from residents who experienced those remarkable days, ensuring their stories endure.

From Remembrance to Renewal

Here at Tried & True Cafe, we occupy a space that witnessed both the hardships of war and the jubilation of peace. As we serve our community daily, we're mindful of how Putney rebuilt and renewed itself after the conflict. The transformation of our neighborhood from war-damaged suburb to thriving community reflects the larger story of postwar Britain—determination, recovery, and eventual prosperity.

This VE Day, we invite our customers to pause and reflect on those who walked these streets before us. Whether you're a longtime Putney resident or a newcomer to our community, the legacy of that victorious day eight decades ago remains part of our shared heritage.

Together, we'll ensure that even as the years pass, the significance of what was won—and what was sacrificed—remains in our collective memory.

Keywords: VE Day, Victory in Europe Day, Putney history, Upper Richmond Road, London Blitz, World War II, Tried & True Cafe, Putney bombings, wartime London, SW15 history, 80th anniversary, community remembrance, Putney Heath, local history

WEEKEND HOURS - 8.30am - 4pm

Copyright © Tried and True Cafe Putney, All rights reserved.