FOLLOWING recent laudable efforts to arouse our national pride on St George's Day, I was pleased to see your front page given up last week to reminding us of VE Day and reporting that so many celebrations are being organised locally.

I was reminded of one day many years ago when we were on holiday in France. It was in the month of May, when we came upon a marching brass band in the remote village of Mouleydier. I soon found myself attending a ceremony outside the Marie in the cobbled village square and being addressed by local dignitaries. I learnt that the date was May 8 and that it was a day for great rejoicing throughout Europe.

I was deeply moved, especially when two villagers thanked me effusively for attending their special ceremony. I was almost made to feel the British government had chosen me as an ambassador of goodwill!

I allowed myself to be persuaded to accompany them across the river to the far side of the bridge, from where we could look back and admire their lovely new village.

I was then told the terrible story of how, shortly before May 8, 1945, all the villagers had been rounded up, forced to walk across the bridge and, from the spot on which we were then standing, made to watch the whole village go up in flames.

At least they were spared the fate of their neighbouring village of Oradour-sur-Glane, where all the men were shot and the women and children burnt alive in their village church.

There are so many things for which we can be thankful, including the fact that our valiant forces spared us the horrors of invasion.

Lest we forget, long may we join in thought each year on May 8 with all the tiny villages across Europe such as Mouleydier.

RAMSAY BAXTER, Albert Road North, Malvern.