Towyn amusement park to host VE Day 80th anniversary event
VE Day marked the end of the Second World War, on May 8, 1945.
Live music performances will be provided by The Harper Brothers (sons of Bobby Ball, 3pm), Hefin Roberts (6pm) and Dean Morter (9pm).
Alongside the music, guests can enjoy VE Day crafts for kids, character meet-and-greets, decorations, and freebies throughout the park.
All serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and cadets who present valid ID will receive half-price fairground credits.
'It's such a significant moment in history that we are honoured to be able to celebrate,' said Luke Knightly, director at Knightly's Fun Park.
Blind Veterans UK is a charity dedicated to helping vision-impaired ex-servicemen and women lead independent and fulfilling lives.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edinburgh Live
20 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Veteran trio return to Scotland for 'magical' visit to Edinburgh Tattoo
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Three veterans who served in the Second World War have attended the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo during a trip to Scotland for a "return to places of deep personal meaning" organised by a charity. Eugeniusz Niedzielski, 101, Don Turrell, 100, and Dorothea Barron, 100, were at the event at Edinburgh Castle, organised by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. They described the Tattoo as "the icing on the cake" after seeing the show on Tuesday evening. The visit was organised after Mr Turrell, who lives in Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, disclosed it was his "final wish" to return to Scotland, where he had served in the Cameronians, and he vowed to come back next year. Polish veteran Mr Niedzielski, from London, was "delighted" to watch the Band of the Polish Border Guard, according to organisers. He served with the 1st Armoured Polish Division, and during the visit spent time with the Polish Community in Edinburgh, and also attended a Catholic Mass and a memorial service to his fallen comrades. Ms Barron, from Hertfordshire, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), returned to the site of her former barracks at Port Edgar, now a housing development and had a tour of Campbeltown, while Mr Turrell visited the Cameronians Museum and the Ben Nevis Distillery. He said the visit was "unforgettable", and also described the Tattoo as "magical". Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages Mr Turrell said: "It was breathtaking - from the stirring opening to the grand finale. When the pipers emerged through the smoke, I thought the procession would never end - it was magical. "It's been absolutely wonderful - and I'm coming back next year." Colin Mills, chairman of the Taxi Charity, said: "Since 1948, the Taxi Charity has supported thousands of veterans, arranging free trips to the Netherlands and France for acts of commemoration, as well as days out to museums, concerts, and social events across the UK. "This trip to Scotland was inspired when Don quietly shared with me that his last wish was to return there. We were determined to make it happen - and in doing so, we've not only fulfilled Don's dream, but also the heartfelt wishes of Dorothea and Eugeniusz." Dick Goodwin, vice president of the Taxi Charity, said "This trip has given the veterans the chance to return to places of deep personal meaning from their wartime service - and they've enjoyed every moment." He said the Tattoo was "a celebration of skill, pageantry, and shared history". Mr Goodwin said: "It was a fantastic performance, from the hundreds of pipers, The Band of the Polish Border Guard, that delighted World War Two veteran Eugeniusz Niedzielski, to the precision and daring of the USAF Honor Guard Drill Team, spinning and throwing rifles with bayonets attached. "The whole evening was a celebration of skill, pageantry, and shared history. "This trip has given the veterans the chance to return to places of deep personal meaning from their wartime service - and they've enjoyed every moment."
Scotsman
20 hours ago
- Scotsman
39 nostalgic photos capture golden age of Butlin's holiday camps
These nostalgic photos capture half a century of fun at Butlin's holiday camps around the UK, from 1936 to 1985. From glamorous granny contests to square dancing, or simply relaxing by the pool, they show why the camps were so popular back then, pulling in punters from miles around. The first Butlin's in Skegness was officially opened on April 11, 1936, by the famous aviator Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia. A second camp followed in Clacton, Essex, in 1938, and construction of a third, in Filey, Yorkshire, got underway in 1939. At its peak in the late 60s, there were 10 Butlin's holiday camps, and the famous firm also ran a number of large hotels. The camps' popularity declined with the rise of cheap overseas holidays in the 1960s, but there are still three Butlin's sites, in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness. This retro photo gallery captures the golden age of Butlin's, from the 1930s to the 1960s. It also shows how, while they may have lost some of their sheen by then, the camps remained popular with many holidaymakers during the 1980s. Fairground rides, limbo competitions and sing-alongs are pictured, as are the famous monorails which opened at Skegness and Minehead in the 60s. You can see celebrity guests over the years too, from a royal visitor to F1 champions and a boxing star. These evocative photos also show families enjoying the boating lake, honeymooning couples relaxing beside the pool, and, of course, the famous Redcoats preparing for duty in their chalet. The pictures depict too how the camps were taken over by the armed forces during the Second World War, when troops could be seen preparing for action with signs advertising bikes and mechanical horses for hire in the background. The Butlin's story began when founder Billy Butlin visited Barry Island and felt sorry for families there staying in 'drab' guest houses with little to do. He set out to make seaside breaks affordable for all, creating a 'place of colour and happiness', with plenty of entertainment for visitors of all ages. Key to that were the famous Redcoats, the team of workers who looked after and entertained guests at Butlin's holiday camps. That role has proved a springboard to success for many stars of light entertainment, from Des O'Connor and Jimmy Tarbuck to Stephen Mulhern. These photos are sure to bring back memories of Butlin's for anyone who grew up during the 60s, 70s and 80s or earlier and was lucky enough to visit with their families. Many of them have probably continued the family tradition by treating their children or grandchildren to a day out or a week away at one of the remaining Butlin's resorts. Ice cream is a big part of any trip to the seaside. But how many of these popular ice creams of the 60s, 70s and 80s do you remember? 1 . Wave for the camera Holidaymakers on a fairground ride at Butlin's in Skegness in June 1936 | Getty Images Photo: Fox Photos Photo Sales 2 . Boating lake Holidaymakers on and beside the boating lake at Butlin's in Minehead, Somerset, in around 1964 | Getty Images Photo: Keystone/Hulton Archive Photo Sales 3 . How low can you go? Redcoats watch as a holidaymaker competes in the limbo competition at the Butlin's Holiday Camp in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, in June 1985 | Getty Images Photo: Bryn Colton Photo Sales 4 . Monorail A monorail train at Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, in around 1967 | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive Photo Sales
Western Telegraph
a day ago
- Western Telegraph
Veterans return to Scotland for ‘magical' visit to Edinburgh Tattoo
Eugeniusz Niedzielski, 101, Don Turrell, 100, and Dorothea Barron, 100, attend the pageantry event at Edinburgh Castle during their trip to Scotland, organised by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. They described the Tattoo as 'the icing on the cake' after seeing the show on Tuesday evening. The visit was organised after Mr Turrell, who lives in Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, disclosed it was his 'final wish' to return to Scotland, where he had served in the Cameronians, and he vowed to come back next year. Polish veteran Mr Niedzielski was 'delighted' to watch the Band of the Polish Border Guard, according to organisers. Second World War veterans (left to right) Eugeniusz Niedzielski, 101, Don Turrell, 100, and Dorothea Barron, 100 (Jane Barlow/PA Wire). He served with the 1st Armoured Polish Division, and during the visit spent time with the Polish Community in Edinburgh, and also attended a Catholic Mass and a memorial service to his fallen comrades. Ms Barron, who served in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS), returned to the site of her former barracks at Port Edgar, now a housing development and had a tour of Campbeltown, while Mr Turrell visited the Cameronians Museum and the Ben Nevis Distillery. He said the visit was 'unforgettable', and also described the Tattoo as 'magical'. Mr Turrell said: 'It was breathtaking – from the stirring opening to the grand finale. When the pipers emerged through the smoke, I thought the procession would never end – it was magical. 'It's been absolutely wonderful – and I'm coming back next year.' Colin Mills, chairman of the Taxi Charity, said: 'Since 1948, the Taxi Charity has supported thousands of veterans, arranging free trips to the Netherlands and France for acts of commemoration, as well as days out to museums, concerts, and social events across the UK. 'This trip to Scotland was inspired when Don quietly shared with me that his last wish was to return there. We were determined to make it happen – and in doing so, we've not only fulfilled Don's dream, but also the heartfelt wishes of Dorothea and Eugeniusz.' Dick Goodwin, vice president of the Taxi Charity, said 'This trip has given the veterans the chance to return to places of deep personal meaning from their wartime service – and they've enjoyed every moment.' He said the Tattoo was 'a celebration of skill, pageantry, and shared history'. Mr Goodwin said: 'It was a fantastic performance, from the hundreds of pipers, The Band of the Polish Border Guard, that delighted World War Two veteran Eugeniusz Niedzielski, to the precision and daring of the USAF Honor Guard Drill Team, spinning and throwing rifles with bayonets attached. 'The whole evening was a celebration of skill, pageantry, and shared history. 'This trip has given the veterans the chance to return to places of deep personal meaning from their wartime service – and they've enjoyed every moment.'
