logo
Berkshire marks 80th anniversary of VJ Day

Berkshire marks 80th anniversary of VJ Day

BBC News16 hours ago
Events are being held across Berkshire to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.VJ Day, or Victory over Japan Day, is commemorated on 15 August each year, and marks the date in 1945 when Japan surrendered to the Allied forces, ending World War Two.Newbury is hosting a commemorative service on the anniversary of VJ Day, which mayor David Harman said "marked the final victory in a war that reshaped the world".Other communities are holding events to reflect on hostilities drawing to a close in 1945.
A commemorative service is being held at Newbury's War Memorial at 11:00 BST, offering a time for the community to pay their respects to those who served and sacrificed during the conflict. Following the service, there will be a reception and exhibition in Newbury Town Hall, featuring stories and memories from local people on the war in the Far East and its aftermath.On Saturday the Royal British Legion in the town will host a day of activities at its Pelican Lane club, including military vehicle displays, historical exhibitions, and entertainment.The Mayor of Newbury, David Harman said, "VJ Day marked the final victory in a war that reshaped the world, but it came at great cost. "Those who served in the Far East displayed immense courage in the face of unimaginable hardship. "As we gather to commemorate this anniversary, we honour their sacrifice and reaffirm our duty to keep their memory alive for future generations."Elsewhere, in Windsor, a service of commemoration on VJ Day is being held at Holy Trinity Parish and Garrison Church at 12:00.The Royal British Legion in Crowthorne is hosting a tea dance from 14:00 followed by an evening quiz with a VJ day theme.Details of other events taking place in Berkshire can be found on the VE/VJ Day 80 website.
You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Teaser 3281
Teaser 3281

Times

timean hour ago

  • Times

Teaser 3281

Square Dates Each year when I get my new diary, I like to look at the dates to see if they have any interesting properties. When I looked at this year's diary, I was pleased to find two dates that are 'square' in the following way. If the date is expressed with one or two digits for the day (ie, no leading zero is allowed), followed by two digits for the month and then the year in full, then 1.09.2025 is a square date, since 1092025 is the square of 1045. The only other square date this year is 27.09.2025, since 27092025 is the square of 5205. Using the same method of expressing the date, what is the first square date after 2025? Send your solution to: The Sunday Times Teaser 3281, PO Box 29, Colchester, Essex CO2 8GZ or email The first two correct solutions opened after next Saturday each win a £20 Waterstones voucher. Open to 18+ UK & ROI residents only. Solution to Teaser 3279 6432 The winners are: RA England, London W3; G Smithers, Holt, Norfolk.

Full-fat faith: the young Christian converts filling our churches
Full-fat faith: the young Christian converts filling our churches

Times

timean hour ago

  • Times

Full-fat faith: the young Christian converts filling our churches

S queezing through the thronging and startlingly youthful crowd in search of a decent place to sit at the 11am service at St Bartholomew the Great, next to Smithfield meat market in central London, you wouldn't guess that the Anglican Church had spent the past few decades apologetically imploding in an unregarded corner of our national life. The congregation is more than 200 on this unexceptional Sunday. A decade ago, I'm told, it might have been 50 or 60. St Barts owes its success and a measure of online fame (one congregant drily remarks that it is something of a 'meme church') to its embrace of beautiful and traditional worship. But the young crowd is not just here for a cultural Christianity of hymns and picturesque ritual. They are remarkably fervent: genuflecting, bowing and crossing themselves. Most pray on their knees with their hands clasped together and their eyes squeezed shut.

Time to overhaul a university system that has ceased to serve the country's needs
Time to overhaul a university system that has ceased to serve the country's needs

Telegraph

timean hour ago

  • Telegraph

Time to overhaul a university system that has ceased to serve the country's needs

SIR – The post-school education system of the late 1960s and early 1970s was perfectly suited to the country's needs (' Universities 'putting bums on seats' as high A-level grades rise', report, August 15). Universities were for academic excellence; polytechnics combined the technical and the academic; and technical colleges provided Higher National Diploma courses. The system has since been degraded by the proliferation of universities, leading to many degrees becoming worthless. It needs to change. To declare an interest, I was a polytechnic student in the early 1970s; attached to the poly was a technical college offering courses for trades such as plumbing and bricklaying. Some of the teachers there supplied the technical support for my estate management course. Jonathan Youens Bucharest, Romania SIR – It is now in the interests of schools to encourage students to go to university, as that is effectively how their performance is assessed. Young people between the ages of 16 and 18 are given little advice on their options other than: 'Get a degree.' My son, who has just finished his degree, is fortunate to have worked part-time in another field during his studies. He now has a full-time job, unrelated to what he studied. He describes university as an expensive mistake. Britain needs young people to work, to pay tax. That more are not encouraged to start doing this at 16 or 18, rather than several years later after incurring debts in excess of £50,000, is a scandal. Mark Scrimshaw Northwood, Middlesex SIR – This year's A-level results have revealed shocking inequalities. In London, more than 32 per cent were A or above, compared with only 22.9 per cent in the North East. Such disparities extend beyond education. Life expectancy, other health outcomes and transport infrastructure are also poorer in the North East and some other regions. When are these going to be addressed? Dr Robert McKinty Darlington, Co Durham

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store