Veterans join countdown to VE Day anniversary with full-size Spitfire replica
Veterans joined an armed forces charity as it launched a countdown to the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a full-size Spitfire replica outside the Royal Albert Hall.
VE Day, short for Victory in Europe Day, is celebrated every year on May 8 to mark the day the Allies formally accepted Germany's surrender in 1945.
This year's landmark anniversary will be celebrated on the Royal Albert Hall stage with personal accounts of the Second World War and performances from around 100 musicians.
With 80 days to go, armed forces charity SSAFA launched a countdown to the event, with 100-year-old Royal Navy Wren Ruth Barnwell, from London, and 98-year-old Normandy veteran Henry Rice, from Surrey, posing alongside a full-size Spitfire replica outside the famous venue.
They were joined by 87-year-old Doreen Simson, from Sussex, who was evacuated from her home in White City, west London, at the age of four and separated from her brother when they arrived in Wales, where she was taken in by a lady called Mrs Sharpe.
'Thinking about my evacuation sometimes brings tears to my eyes, but as I wrote on Mrs Sharpe's funeral flowers, if it hadn't been for the war I wouldn't have had a second family,' she said.
Also at the launch was Harry Clark, who was serving with the 47 Regiment Royal Artillery when he won the second series of the BBC's The Traitors.
The May 8 concert will include performances by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and The RAF Squadronaires, part of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force.
Lady Walmsley, national vice chairwoman at SSAFA, said: 'Each anniversary of VE Day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by the armed forces to ensure our safety and freedom.
'Eighty years on, there are few who will remember VE Day first hand.
'This makes it even more important to celebrate veterans of the Second World War, publicly recognising the significance of what they achieved.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
King shares ‘salty tales' with old shipmates
The King has hosted a private Buckingham Palace reception for old shipmates from his naval days to 'share a few salty tales on the trip down memory sea-lane'. The event, thought to be the first of its kind, was personally requested by the King to thank his old comrades for their 'continued loyalty, laughter and support over the decades'. It was funded by the monarch privately. The King, as Prince of Wales, served in both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force during the 1970s. Three months ago, he said: 'My own time at sea… remains one of the most formative, and fondest, experiences of my life.' Among some 400 guests invited to the reception were previous shipmates and their partners from HMS Bronington, Jupiter, Norfolk, Hermione, Minerva, Hermes, Dryad, Fox, and Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, as well as fellow aviators drawn from 845 Naval Air Squadron, and across the Fleet Air Arm. When the King gave up his military career to dedicate himself to royal duties in 1976, he used his Royal Navy severance pay to create the King's Trust. A palace aide said ahead of the reception: 'His Majesty was greatly looking forward to seeing his old shipmates, and no doubt sharing a few salty tales on the trip down memory sea-lane. 'He is most grateful for their continued loyalty, laughter and support over the decades, and looked forward to hearing where life's journeys had taken them all. 'As we approach the 50th anniversary of The King's Trust, which was initially funded with His Majesty's £7,400 severance pay from the Navy, it was a timely opportunity to reflect on what great things have sprung from those formative years – including lifelong friendships and a continued commitment to public service.' Others invited to the palace on Wednesday included a contingent from HMY Britannia and representatives from the King's patronages the White Ensign Association, the Royal Navy Club of 1765 and 1785, the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust and the Association of Royal Naval Officers. The King, as Prince of Wales, was taught to fly while he was studying at Cambridge University by RAF Squadron Leader Philip Penney. In 1971, he flew himself to RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire to train as a jet pilot, graduating later that year after receiving his wings. The King went on to embark on his naval career, joining the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He began as a 22-year-old acting sub-lieutenant, and was later posted to the guided missile destroyer HMS Norfolk and then to the frigates HMS Minerva and HMS Jupiter in the West Indies and the Pacific respectively. The King returned to England to learn naval aviation, eventually earning the Double Diamond trophy as best pilot. He rose to command minesweeper HMS Bronington before returning to royal duties. In 2012, Elizabeth II awarded him the highest rank in all three services – Field Marshal, Admiral of the Fleet and Marshal of the Royal Air Force. On her death in 2022, the King became the Commander-in-Chief of the UK Armed Forces and, a month later, he replaced his younger son, the Duke of Sussex, as Captain General of the Royal Marines. In March this year, the King became the first monarch to visit a Royal Navy warship at sea in almost 40 years when he flew by helicopter to HMS Prince of Wales in the English Channel as it prepared for a major deployment to Japan. He spoke with deep affection about his time in the Navy and described his 'enduring respect' for the service. Meanwhile, the Queen has hailed the legacy of a literary prize that brought women's writing 'from the margins of the literary world to its very centre'. Camilla surprised shoppers when she dropped in on a pop-up Waterstones store in London, before joining an event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Women's Prize for Fiction. She said the prize had 'transformed the literary landscape for women', launching careers and ensuring that bestsellers had 'flown off the shelves into the hands and hearts of the public'. The Queen met the six authors shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction including Nussaibah Younis, whose novel Fundamentally tells the story of an academic who travels to Iraq to de-radicalise a teenage Islamic State recruit, and Yael van der Wouden, who wrote The Safekeep. Her Majesty told Tell Me Everything writer Elizabeth Strout: 'I have read your books, they are lovely.' 'Good luck to you all,' she told the group. 'I shall be thinking of you.' She was then introduced to the six shortlisted authors for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction, including singer-songwriter and rapper Neneh Cherry, whose debut book, A Thousand Threads, tells the story of her career. The Queen told Clare Mulley, whose Agent Zo tells the story of the Polish wartime resistance fighter Elzbieta Zawacka: 'I think I will put that on my holiday reading list.' And she delighted author Chloe Dalton by telling her she had read her memoir Raising Hare about swapping the rat race for a rural life. Author Kate Mosse, who founded the prize, said the Queen's attendance had been kept secret. 'Nobody knew, which is why people were so surprised,' she said. 'If you're going to lay on the Queen, if it's not Beyoncé, it's got to be the actual Queen.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
The State Fair of West Virginia in the 1950s
FAIRLEA, WV (WVNS) — A sense of normalcy returned to the State Fair of West Virginia in the 1950s thanks to a time of prosperity after the end of the Second World War. Luckily for those that made the Fair a family event, the event went on annually in its fourth decade, thanks to the period of peace after the conclusion of World War II. The 1950s brought with it the typical State Fair staples: animals, connection, and entertainment. Animals at the event were always a big deal and were heavily advertised in newspapers, magazines, and other means. This was especially true for cattle. The State Fair of West Virginia in the 1940s Also as popular as ever were the horses. The equine events have always been a draw for the crowds, from jousting tournaments, horse shows, and harness racing. Interestingly, jousting tournaments were brought to the Fair in 1953 and 1954, with members from the well-known Tuckwiller family taking part in the festivities. Fashion of the Fair: style trends throughout the last century at the State Fair of West Virginia The history section on the State Fair of West Virginia's website stated that 1956 brought another change to the event, as the fairgrounds expanded when the 'Simons Property' was bought, along with land at the south end of the racetrack. The 1950s also brought further additions due to a motion that was passed for the building of a sheep pavilion, to change the rabbit show area to a facility for the pigs, and to create a new rabbit house. Additions and changes were also made to the industrial building in 1958, according to the Fair's website. According to photos from the Greenbrier Historical Society, in 1957, a horse, owned by David and Grace Anne Tuckwiller, broke the track record at the fair during a harness race. Along with the animals, some fairgoers made traditions and even returned to remake memories of their previous times at the Fair. The State Fair of West Virginia not only gives fairgoers a chance to experience fun events and activities, it gives them a chance to make memories that could last a lifetime. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
‘Destination X' Premiere Ratings Grow to Reach 4.2 Million Viewers Across NBC, Peacock
The 'Destination X' premiere has grown to reach over 4 million viewers, TheWrap can reveal exclusively. The premiere episode, which first premiered on May 27, has reached 4.2 million viewers across NBC, Peacock and all other platforms, according to Nielsen figures, doubling the episode's initial live-plus-same-day viewership of 2.1 million. 'Destination X,' which airs Tuesdays on NBC, saw a 20% week-to-week uptick in viewership in the key demo among adults 18-49 when comparing the premiere episode to its second installment, which aired June 3. To date, the new unscripted series has reached more than 9 million viewers across all platforms. Hosted by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, 'Destination X' challenges strangers to traverse European countries on a blacked-out bus with the goal of figuring out where they are each week. By the end of the competition series, the final player will find Morgan at the ultimate Destination X and win a cash prize of $250,000. In Episode 3, which premieres Tuesday, June 10, 'Destination X' will introduce two new familiar faces in JaNa Craig ('Love Island USA' Season 6, 'Love Island: Beyond the Villa') and Peter Weber ('The Bachelor,' 'The Traitors'). The official logline for Episode 3 is as follows: 'Love is in the air as the journey continues and the clues get trickier. With romance brewing and red herrings in play, one player's journey ends. JaNa Craig and Peter Weber arrive and immediately shake up the game.' 'Destination X,' which marks the second commission between NBCU and the BBC after 'The Traitors,' is produced by Twofour, part of ITV Studios, and Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group. Morgan executive produces the show alongside Andy Cadman and Emanuel Vanderjeudg executive produce alongside Twofour's Dan Adamson, David Clews and Shireen Abbott. The post 'Destination X' Premiere Ratings Grow to Reach 4.2 Million Viewers Across NBC, Peacock | Exclusive appeared first on TheWrap.
