Ray Petrie

Ray Petrie remembers being centre of attention at a Moss Side street party

In 1946 I was six or seven and everyone was coming home from the war. You could see flags out, balloons out, banners with “Welcome home Billy” and all that. I was a bit down because we didn’t have one. I felt out of it really because my dad, who was in the Merchant Navy, was killed during the war – lost at sea. 

I was in Moss Side and at that time there were very few coloured people. We had a big party in our street for VE Day – every street had a party – and I was like a little star because I was the only black kid there. Everyone lifted me up, putting me here and there – it was really nice!