VE Day – 80th anniversary
VE Day marked the end of World War Two in Europe on 8 May 1945.
On 8 May 1945, Prime Minister Winston Churchill made an announcement on the radio at 3pm that the war in Europe had come to an end, following Germany’s surrender the day before.
Huge crowds took to the streets to sing, dance and rejoice after nearly six years of war.
To mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) day, four days of commemorative events have been taking place across the UK, from 5 to 8 May.
A military procession and flypast took place in central London on Bank Holiday Monday, with other events including 2,500 beacons being lit across the UK, still to come.
Britons have also been urged to get together in streets, gardens, town halls, clubs and pubs, similar to how people marked the end of nearly six years of war 80 years ago.
Outside London, elaborate VE Day celebrations are planned across the country. To search for an event in your local area, visit your council website or check out the ve-vjday80 site.
Events planned to mark VE Day itself will kick off with a service in Westminster Abbey, with 1,800 people invited to attend including the King and Queen, veterans, politicians and charities.
At midday, a two-minute silence will be held across all UK government buildings and departments, to remember those who fought in WW2 and will fly the union jack flag at full mast. Other organisations are invited to follow suit.
The Royal Family are expected to attend a service of remembrance and thanksgiving in honour of the WW2 generation taking place at Westminster Abbey on 8 May.
Back in 1945, short services were held every hour in the Abbey to mark the national holiday with about 25,000 people in attendance across the day. 80 years on , the Abbey is expecting just over 1,000 worshippers, including WW2 veterans.
In the afternoon, the Royal British Legion, a UK-based charity that supports veterans, will host a private tea party for Second World War veterans and their families.
It will take place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and aims to include veterans who live in the North of England and cannot travel to events in London.
The tea party is expected to attract a large crowd and possibly the largest group of Second World War veterans at a VE Day event.
Pubs will also be allowed to stay open for an extra two hours on 8 May, meaning people will be able to raise a glass until 1am to mark the end of the four-day celebration.
We at Kellands will be joining many to raise a glass to the courage and bravery of the men and women who fought for our freedom in World World War Two. To quote Sir Winston Churchill ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few’.
