The extract from 7th May 1945. It must have been an extraordinary feeling for her to type that first line. Vere continued to write her diary well in to the 1970s and was an indefatigable ‘recorder’ in other ways too: her papers include, for example, a hardback visitor’s book full of photographs and messages from all her international guests (such as ‘The Mowhawk Singer’ Chief Oskenonton and the Beninese Cardinal, Bernardin Gantin).