Support quality, independent, local journalism…that mattersFrom just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today A 100-year-old veteran has shared her stories of the Second World War ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day Eunice joined the Royal Navy and became a Women’s Royal Naval Service (WREN) member at the age of 19 until the age of 21 – something she is incredibly proud of Eunice was posted down to the Royal Naval Air Station in Lee-On-The-Solent where she spent her time serving her country including living and working through the Dunkirk evacuation.  in Lee-On-The-Solent whilst he was in the RAF and Eunice in the WREN Eunice and John got married in Cardiff in 1944 while he had two weeks leave from Normandy and her family celebrated by having a street party in Cardiff with her neighbours and family Eunice stayed working as a WREN for two and a half years while John stayed in the RAF for around 35 years The pair went on to have two sons called Neil and Phillip Eunice moved into Parklands Care Home in Bedwas three years ago and is now looking forward to celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day by joining in the street party being held at the home She said: “I remember the bells ringing and people cheering but it was the silence afterwards that stayed with me – the kind of silence that comes with relief and remembrance we felt like we’d helped change the world.” Support quality, independent, local journalism…that mattersFrom just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.Become a member today Eunice joined the Royal Navy and became a WREN at the age of 19 By NOTICEBOARD · 3 May 2025 A resident from HC-One Wales’s Parklands Care Home in Bedwas, Caerphilly, has been sharing her memories of Victory in Europe (VE) Day in celebration of the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8 Resident, Eunice David (pictured above and below), who was born on May 16, 1924, now aged 100 years old, was 15 at the start of World War II and 21 at the end of the war Eunice lived in Ely, Cardiff before moving to Lee-on-the-Solent with her mum which is something she is incredibly proud of Eunice was posted down to the Royal Naval Air Station in Lee-on-the-Solent including living and working through the Dunkirk Evacuation whilst he was in the RAF and Eunice in the WRENS whilst he had two weeks leave from Normandy VE Day was a time of great joy for the couple and their family as it meant a chance to look towards a safer future Eunice stayed working as a WREN for two and a half years and John stayed in the RAF for around 35 years Eunice and John travelled around the world together where Eunice recalls many experiences which she has spoken about and shared with others The couple (pictured above) went on to have two sons Eunice is now looking forward to celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day by joining in the street party being hosted at Parklands Care Home Eunice said: “I remember the bells ringing and people cheering but it was the silence afterwards that stayed with me - the kind of silence that comes with relief and remembrance “We were just girls doing our duty, but on VE Day we felt like we’d helped change the world.” LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} Carmarthenshire News Online Local and National News for Carmarthenshire Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email All council services in Cardiff will be looked at for potential cuts as the city’s local authority prepares to deal… Pembrokeshire and Powys have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to a poster competition run… The end of a planning saga involving proposals for a new railway station and business park in Cardiff could soon… we had been liaising with Stuart's family and had been sent some beautiful words that summed him up and along with his impressive parkrun stats had a lovely piece which RD Honor would say before the main briefing we could see lots of Stubbington Green running tops ( Stuart's run club) and lots of milestone T shirts (he loved collecting them) Standing on the hill and reflecting on what an amazing thing parkrun is how many lives had been touched and enriched by Stuart who called parkrun his "church" there was quite a congregation today for you Stuart 🙂 and as 600 people joined in with a minutes applause to celebrate his life These were the words if you missed them today: Our event today is in memory of a lovely gentleman Stuart Nicholson who left us suddenly and unexpectedly recently Stuart was a well-known face at Lee-on-the-Solent parkrun He made a great deal of friends at parkrun and was always encouraging everyone to join in and take part He completed his last parkrun on 1st March attached to his chemotherapy and for the second half by his daughter Lucy and granddaughters Stuart loved milestone T shirts and had quite a collection thank you for wearing yours today in his memory so please join us in a minute’s applause for Stuart As Winter softy melts into Spring Lee-on-the-Solent parkrun was a perfect choice for a bright March morning We were visiting from Torbay and it was a glorious morning to run by the sea The 5K your Way Move against Cancer team were celebrating their 6th birthday and were out in force doing an event ‘Takeover’ where a group or club volunteers to do all the roles to make the parkrun event happen The support on the course was great with the volunteers amassing a fabulous cheer squad © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner Rev Dr Paul Chamberlain apologises for talk at Hampshire school after angry parents say he ‘ruined Christmas’ Telling young children whether Santa is or is not real is a parental ritual usually handled with painstaking care For students at a primary school in Hampshire their childhood wonder was torn to shreds after a vicar told pupils the bearded gift-bearer was invented angry parents and claims of a “ruined Christmas” followed Rev Dr Paul Chamberlain’s visit to Lee-on-the-Solent junior school this week The Times reported that he was there to speak to a religious education class about the birth of Jesus but the scope of his talk soon broadened He also said that their parents bought their presents and ate the biscuits left out for Santa A spokesperson for the Diocese of Portsmouth said: “We understand that the vicar of St Faith’s was leading an RE lesson for 10- and 11-year-olds at Lee-on-Solent junior school “After talking about the nativity story from the Bible he made some comments about the existence of Father Christmas “Paul has accepted that this was an error of judgment and the headteacher immediately wrote to all parents to explain this “The school and diocese have worked together to address this issue and the headteacher has now written to parents a second time A VICAR has left primary school children in tears and ruined Christmas after telling them Santa isn't real Rev Dr Paul Chamberlain made the remarks to Year 6 pupils from Lee-on-the-Solent Junior School in Hampshire during a RE lesson about the Nativity story The minister claimed that parents bought the presents and ate the cookies left out for Father Christmas He is also alleged to have told the kids: "You're all Year 6 The Rev Dr Chamberlain has been the vicar at nearby St Faith's Church since 2014 His comments have led to a series of complaints by parents who have been left having to reassure their little ones that Santa is real "She's come home every day this week telling me that Santa isn't real and absolutely ruined our Christmas "I went into the school and rang the day before yesterday "I went into the school yesterday and they said they've got things going on behind the scenes. I don't know how it can be undone but I think it's absolutely disgusting "I don't want him anywhere near my daughter I hope he never comes into the school again "I think he should stop doing what he's doing really difficult because she's a very bright little girl "So we're just going to try and just push as much magic into this as we can." Another parent added: "Mine was upset but she still believes so I'm quite lucky she's still not believing him and she thinks he's lost the plot "I think it's wrong but a lot of parents have had to confess to their child." the historical figure who inspired the modern-day Santa Claus He was a 4th-century bishop of Myra (modern-day Demre in Turkey) and is known for his generosity Saint Nicholas was born around 270 AD in the Roman province of Lycia in the town of Patara (present-day Turkey) he lost his parents at a young age and inherited a substantial fortune Rather than keeping the wealth for himself Nicholas dedicated his life to serving others living out his faith through acts of charity A ten-year-old pupil said: "So he said 'Do your parents like cookies?' And a lot of them said "And then he said how the parents were the ones that were eating it "I heard a lot of gasps because they were shocked about it "We had this note that came in was saying about how he was sorry and then we had these stickers and a customised bauble." The school contacted parents after the class in an email saying "all stories and legends around Christmas" are legitimate I don't want him anywhere near my daughter They reassured pupils that "your own family beliefs are what are important and just as valid as Christian Christmas story" The vicar has since apologised to the children accepting his remarks were "an error of judgment" in a note A spokesman for the Diocese of Portsmouth said: "We understand that the vicar of St Faith's was leading an RE lesson for ten and eleven-year-olds at Lee-on-the-Solent Junior School "After talking about the Nativity story from the Bible "Paul has accepted that this was an error of judgment and he should not have done so "He apologised unreservedly to the school "The school and diocese have worked together to address this issue Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner. Frameworks, 2 Sheen Road, Richmond, TW9 1AE Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. He went a step further and explained the childrens’ parents were eating biscuits left out for Santa I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A vicar in Hampshire has apologised to upset children and their angry parents after telling year six pupils that Santa Claus wasn’t real. Parents complained of a “ruined Christmas” after Reverend Dr Paul Chamberlain’s visit to Lee-on-the-Solent Junior School this week to speak to a religious education class about the birth of Jesus “You’re all year six, now let’s be real, Santa isn’t real,” Rev Chamberlain told the children during the lesson As the children took in the shocking revelation, he went a step further and explained that their parents were the ones who ate the biscuits left out for Father Christmas Many of the 10- and 11-year-old children reportedly burst into tears “I don’t know how it can be undone, but I think it’s absolutely disgusting,” a mother was quoted as saying by The Times. The parent said the school could not “bring the magic back”. Many parents have had to “confess” to their children since the incident, the reports said. A formal complaint has been lodged against Rev Chamberlain by a parent and the school launched an effort to restore the festive spirit by giving out “believe” badges, the report said. A spokesperson for the Diocese of Portsmouth said: “We understand that the vicar of St Faith’s, Lee-on-the-Solent, the Rev Paul Chamberlain, was leading an RE lesson for 10 and 11 year olds at Lee-on-the-Solent Junior School. “After talking about the Nativity story from the Bible, he made some comments about the existence of Father Christmas. Paul has accepted that this was an error of judgment and he should not have done so. “He apologised unreservedly to the school, to the parents and to the children, and the headteacher immediately wrote to all parents to explain this. “The school and diocese have worked together to address this issue, and the headteacher has now written to parents a second time, sending them Paul’s apology.” Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies