Double celebration for Fife great grandmother

When Joyce O’Malley was born in 1945, the country was united in celebrating VE (Victory in Europe) Day, with street parties taking place across the town to mark the occasion.

And on Friday she toasted both events quietly at home by having an afternoon tea with her husband Norman, as the family was unable to gather to celebrate due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Joyce was born at 3.05am on May 7, 1945 and it was on that day that her mother heard the news from Europe that the war was over. Everyone had street parties the night before it was officially announced.

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Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the end of World War II in Europe.

Joyce grew up in Cowdenbeath with her three brothers and her sister. She attended Foulford School and Moss-side Secondary School.

After leaving school she worked as a sewing machinist for Lyle and Scott and Lee Cooper and then after raising her children, she worked with Fife Council’s cleaning services for 28 years.

She married Norman O’Malley in August 1969 and the couple moved to Kirkcaldy before later settling in Glenrothes.

They recently celebrated their golden wedding.

They have three children, six grandchildren, five step grandkids and two great granddaughters. Her daughter Jacqueline said her mum enjoys marking the two important occasions: “She has a double celebration every five years and feels special having her birthday with VE Day. She feels it is extra special being born when everyone was having street parties!”