Socially-distant party thrown for Navy hero Patsy on VE Day

A 95-year-old Patsy Sheehan should have been taking part in a Royal British Legion VE Day celebration last Friday – a service in Westminster Abbey and a procession on Whitehall.

But it was cancelled because of lockdown, so his family organised a 1940s-themed party for him at home instead- with social distancing.

Patsy was born on Christmas Eve 1924, and called up to serve for his country in December 1942 – he joined the Navy in January 1943.

He served on HMS Revenge, patrolling the English Channel and the Irish Sea until after the Normandy landings.

He then sailed on to join the British fleet in the Pacific, where his ship survived kamikaze raids.

The ship remained in Australian waters until VJ Day in August 1945, and returned to Portsmouth in June 1946.