Young and old enjoy spring sunshine at VE Day party in east Belfast
Part of the city's Woodstock Road was closed off to facilitate the Bank Holiday Monday community gathering to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe.
The cloudless skies added to the party atmosphere as pensioners enjoyed afternoon tea in the spring sunshine while children played on carnival rides and amusements further up the road.
Jane Watterson, a former champion flute player, was one of the performers who took to the stage to entertain the crowds.
The Scottish-born musician, who lives in Carrickfergus, congratulated the organisers of the event.
'I love it – the fact that you've got all the wee dance troupes, you've got the Ulster Scots side of it, all different musicians, there's something to suit everybody,' she said.
'And they do so well with the pensioners as well. They all get their wee high tea and all their different things. They're inclusive of everybody, regardless of age, colour, creed or religion.'
Ms Watterson said it is important that the story of VE Day is passed on to the younger generations.
'I think it's important to mark it every year,' she added.
'To me, personally, every day is Remembrance Day because of everything that has gone on over the years and is still ongoing. But I do think it's important to mark it.'
Janet Caldwell and her husband, William, joined her sisters-in-law, Rita and Edna, for the event.
'I think it's very good for the community,' she said.
'It's good for the kids, plenty of fun, everybody together. It's a good day for it.
'We've just come down for the afternoon tea at the Peppercorn (cafe) and my wee grandchild will come over to the funfair.'
She added: 'It's about remembrance really, and it's about fun and coming together and just having a good laugh, having a good day and the sun's out.'
The party was hosted by the Titanic Historical and Cultural Society with support from the National Lottery's Community Fund.
Event organiser Stephen Gough said planning work began 11 months ago.
'Just behind us is Willowfield war memorial and the community are very proud of it,' he said.
'But at the same time, as well as remembering, it's about coming out, meeting people that you haven't seen for a while, old friends, and the community coming out and having a good time, putting the smiles on their faces, seeing the children happy.
'And that's what it's really all about – as well as remembering VE 80.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Hundreds of schoolkids rock out to AC/DC to support a teacher about to undergo lifesaving brain surgery
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HUNDREDS of pupils supported a teacher about to undergo lifesaving brain surgery by rocking out to AC/DC's Thunderstruck. Kids sent Julie McCarthy, 51, positive vibes by filming themselves copying her music fan surgeon Roddy O'Kane's pre-op ritual. 6 Julie and Roddy posing with Julie's pupils at Cathedral Primary in Motherwell 6 Julie was overjoyed by the children's support 6 The mum-of-three says the giant sing-along helped her through And she reckons the mass singalong did the trick — after waking to learn 95 per cent of her stage four tumour had been removed. Julie was recently reunited with metalhead Roddy as he visited Cathedral Primary in Motherwell and bonded with guitar-loving kids. Paying tribute to youngsters' role in her recovery, Julie said: 'When I saw the video, I was overwhelmed. Their energy, their joy. It lifted me. 'I truly felt their love.I believe their prayers and positivity helped carry me through.' Mum-of-three Julie had suffered a seizure while driving and crashed into a roundabout — awaking to find herself surrounded by paramedics. She was rushed to Wishaw University Hospital where scans revealed a brain tumour. While awaiting surgery last April she formed a bond with top neurosurgeon Roddy. She recalled: 'I immediately felt safe in his care. 'Even though I was receiving devastating news, I felt an odd sense of clarity, like life was giving me a wake-up call. 'I started to feel lucky the tumour had been found and that I had a chance to fight it.' She told pupils how Roddy liked to listen to rock legends on full blast before entering the operating theatre. On the day of Julie's surgery, 600 kids gathered to record their special clip. They turned their assembly hall into a massive moshpit and chanted 'Thunder' in unison, just like at the start of AC/DC's 1990 anthem. 6 Julie after the surgery, which removed 95 per cent of the stage 4 cancerous tumour 6 Surgeon Roddy has always rocked out to the song to get him in the zone before carrying out surgery on his patients 6 Julie with her kids (L-R) Nina, 14, Rory, 18, and Carlina, 18. Julie loved watching the clip as she recovered at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. The kids then repeated the performance when Roddy joined Julie at the primary. He is a long-term fan of the band who were founded by Glasgow-born Angus Young, 70, and late brother Malcolm. He revealed: 'When Julie showed me the video of the kids rocking out, I was nearly in tears. Who knows, maybe we've inspired a few future neurosurgeons.' Julie has now left her post after 25 years. She said: 'This school has been my life. I trained here, my three children went here. I've watched so many pupils grow and thrive. 'I'm deeply thankful to the staff, the children, and my medical team at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and The Beatson. 'Roddy and the entire team were phenomenal.' Head teacher Graeme Young said: 'The children light up when Julie is around.'
The National
5 hours ago
- The National
The actor passionate about putting Scottish talent on the world stage
And he hopes that the recent appointment of Alan Cumming as artistic director of Pitlochry Theatre will help that happen. 'There is definitely a buzz around Pitlochry just now and Scottish theatre could really use that sense of excitement,' said Collins, who is appearing in three productions at the theatre this summer, including Grease which opens this month. 'Making Scottish entertainment more globally recognised is one thing I am always really passionate about,' he added. 'I know that Canada, America and Australia would love to see more Scottish content and I know that we have the talent here and that we can do it. It is just a matter of finding out how to package these things up.' READ MORE: 'Joy, celebration and warmth' of Palestinian art to be showcased at Edinburgh Fringe He is now on the cusp of applying for indefinite leave to remain, but Collins's commitment to Scotland and Scottish theatre was tested severely back in 2017 when he struggled to renew his visa from the UK Home Office. At the time he had been in Scotland for 10 years, having arrived in 2007 to study at the RSAMD, now the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow. However, when his visa ran out, he was forced to go back to the United States to re-apply after the Arts Council in England failed to endorse his initial application. This was despite protests from well-known actors like Greg Hemphill and Jack Lowden and a successful run of work in Scotland, including playing Hen Broon to much acclaim in the stage production of The Broons cartoon strip. Eventually successful but having lost out on months of work, Collins returned to Scotland and has never regretted it. 'The idea of starting over in America did not appeal and especially now the way things are,' he said. 'I've been super lucky, even in Covid when I got to do voiceovers for Lego and Warhammer and other amazing projects, including recording a video game after lockdown that has just come out on Xbox called Star Trucker.' His commitment to Scotland remains even after all the setbacks his adopted country has suffered since 2014. 'One of the reasons I stayed in Scotland after I graduated is that I felt a bit of a renaissance happening here and felt I wanted to be a part of it and help that movement,' he said. 'We've had the legs kicked out from under us a few times with the indyref and Covid but I am trying to keep the faith and spotlight all the really talented Scots and people who work in Scotland as more people should be seeing them.' Although he has now lived in Scotland for most of his adult life, Glasgow-based Collins only visited Pitlochry for the first time last year. 'It's a beautiful part of the world and it's lovely to be working here just now, as it's an exciting time with Alan coming in,' said Collins, who is appearing as Kenickie in Grease which runs in Pitlochry from June 18 to September 27. He will also appear in the theatre's forthcoming Great Gatsby production and Sunshine on Leith. READ MORE: This bird species is found only in Scotland – and may 'have a Scottish accent' Grease is a co-production with Blackpool Grand Theatre and it is the first time it has been staged as an actor/musician show. 'We're all playing instruments on stage and playing all the backing,' said Collins, who plays guitar. 'That has been pretty cool and the calibre of the musicians is awesome. It's really fun and all the songs are great. It's a toe-tapper that people enjoy.' Director Sam Hardie pointed out that although the musical is now 50 years old, its songs fill dance floors, karaoke rooms and play on radio stations across the world. 'I still remember the feeling of seeing the film for the first time, with songs that made you just want to move and characters you longed to be,' he said. 'The story is a celebration of what it means to be young: to fall in and out of love, to rebel, to dream, to dance and discover who we are and who we want to be. 'Now feels like exactly the right moment to tell this story and meet these young people who remind us of the vitality of life and that in this world we should go together rather than individuals apart.'
Glasgow Times
5 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Eight wonderful pictures of The Reeling music festival in Glasgow
The Reeling Festival, the summer celebration of Scottish contemporary folk music, took place between Friday and Sunday at Rouken Glen Park. It was founded by Michael Pellegrotti, co-director of Skye Live, the music festival in Portree on the Isle of Skye. READ NEXT: Ten amazing pictures of huge cycling event across Glasgow He said: "We launched The Reeling just two years ago, and it's been fantastic to see it grow year on year. "Glasgow's summer celebration of contemporary folk music is now a fixture of the Scottish music scene's calendar, and that is a testament to the incredible talent that makes the Scottish trad scene so special – and the people who come out to celebrate it." Glasgow Times photographer Colin Mearns captured these wonderful images at the event. (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns)
