Isle of Man VE Day commemorations to take place

BBC News

08-05-2025

Concert and services to mark 80 years since VE Day
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Ashlea Tracey
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People are being invited to pay their respects at events across the island
Services of remembrance and a big band concert are set to take place across the Isle of Man as it marks 80 years since VE Day.
Ceremonies have been planned at war memorials in Ramsey, Douglas, Onchan, Port St Mary and Castletown to acknowledge the end of World War Two in Europe.
A free two-hour concert and military service will also be held at the Royal Hall in the Villa Marina at 19:00 BST on Thursday as part of the commemorations.
Church bells will ring out across the island and a beacon will also be lit, joining a network of others across the British Isles.
The Manx public has also been invited to fall silent at midday to commemorate the anniversary and remember those who fought during the war.
Services
A number of services are being held across the island, including in the Manx Capital of Douglas.
Mayor Natalie Byron-Teare will make a speech before the Last Post is played and a minute's silence is held at 10:45 at Hilary Park.
Ceremonies organised by the Royal British Legion (RBL) will take place at the same time by the Onchan War Memorial and in the Port St Mary garden of remembrance.
At 11:00 an act of remembrance is to be held at the Castletown War Memorial, to include wreath laying and readings.
After the national two-minute silence at noon, a similar service will commence in Ramsey.
The Douglas branch of the RBL will host a wreath laying commemoration, set to include a reading of Sir Winston Churchill's radio broadcast at 15:00 - the time the former British prime minister announced the war had come to an end on 8 May 1945.
Commemorations
Residents will also be able to hear the sounds of church bells ringing out at 17:00 at St George's Church in Douglas, followed by a peal at Cathedral Isle of Man in Peel at 18:30.
The commemorations will continue with a big band concert of music from the wartime era at a ticketed event at the Villa Marina in Douglas.
A traditional drumhead service, which uses drums as a makeshift altar, will then follow, led by the RBL.
A commemorative beacon will then be lit by Chief Minister Alfred Cannan in the grounds of the venue.