Latest news with #BrunoPeek
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hundreds of beacons to be lit across UK for 80th anniversary of VE Day
Hundreds of beacons to be lit across UK for 80th anniversary of VE Day More than a thousand beacons and several hundred 'lamp lights of peace' are expected to be lit across the UK to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Communities throughout the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are encouraged to take part in the commemoration to recreate the jubilant scenes of May 8, 1945, when people up and down the country lit hundreds of bonfires and beacons as the celebrations following the news of the German surrender went on into the night. A gold-plated lamp light made especially for the 80th anniversary of VE Day will be carried into St Paul's Cathedral and blessed by the Dean, before being taken to Tower Bridge where its flame will be used to illuminate the central London landmark. Bruno Peek lighting a beacon on the tower of St James's Church in Clerkenwell Green, London (PA) Bruno Peek, pageant master of the commemoration, said the flames from the beacons and lights symbolise peace and remember the millions of lives lost to war. ADVERTISEMENT 'In my personal view, we need to use every opportunity possible to promote peace with the way the world is going at the moment,' he told the PA news agency. 'People from all walks of life who are unable to light beacons can take part by lighting a lamp light of peace, with the flames from the lamp lights and the beacons representing the light of peace that emerged from the darkness of war.' Beacons were one of the earliest forms of communication and were mainly used to spread warnings of danger, but people started to use them to celebrate historical events during the reign of Queen Victoria, Mr Peek said. He added: 'The other reason for the lamp light of peace is because, once they've been used for this occasion, they can then be used to commemorate the end of war. 'So, they can also be relit on the 11th of November at 11am for many years to come, again in remembrance of those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.' Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, lit the first of more than 200 beacons to commemorate the 70th anniversary of VE Day at Windsor Castle (PA) The beacons and lights will not only be lit to commemorate human lives that were lost, but also to remember the millions of animals taken from family homes and farms to aid Allied forces during the Second World War. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Peek said: 'Animals played a special part in the war. 'It is important that we remember, of course, human beings, but animals that played their part as well.' Mr Peek designed the special lamp light which he will carry into St Paul's Cathedral, accompanied by two of the King's Watermen and Lightermen, for the VE Day anniversary service at 5pm on May 8. The lamp light made by Ottewill Silversmiths consists of a central gold-plated brass lantern, sat on a specially made cushion of red velvet with gold braiding and tassels. The lamp is also surrounded by two rings of sterling silver barbed wire to represent the two world wars, and a sterling silver and part gold-plated crown. Mr Peek said: 'I wanted the crown to represent King and country, because that's what it was in World War Two – it was King. ADVERTISEMENT 'It's quite ironic that we have a King for the 80th anniversary.' At the end of the service, the lamp will be blessed on the Great West Steps of St Paul's Cathedral by the Dean of St Paul's Andrew Tremlett. The lamp will then be taken up the Thames to Tower Bridge, where it will be used to light the principal beacon. Mr Peek said: 'When the fuse is lit from the flame, it will then trigger off the whole lighting of Tower Bridge. 'It's going to be an amazing sight.'
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Thousands of schoolchildren to join landmark event marking VE Day 80th anniversary
The Great Big Live Assembly will include inspiring stories, historical insights, and messages of gratitude from veterans, historians, and special guests More than 100,000 schoolchildren will come together for a landmark event commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The Great Big Live Assembly will include inspiring stories, historical insights, and messages of gratitude from veterans, historians, and special guests. The event aims to ensure that new generations understand the importance of VE Day and its lasting impact on the world. Children from 600 schools are expected to take part in a live streamed act of remembrance and gratitude, organisers say. It will include an interview with 108-year-old Frank Chester, a veteran of Operation Overlord and of submarine hunting in the Arctic Convoys. Following the live stream, children will engage with the anniversary through quizzes and follow-up activities. Bruno Peek, Pageantmaster of VE Day 80, said: "This year we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day on the 8th of May, and the country will come together to commemorate the millions who sacrificed their lives at home and abroad so that we would live in freedom. 'I encourage every primary school to take this brilliant opportunity to hear from one of our few surviving veterans so that their story can be passed down to the generation who will be responsible for peace in the future.' Dr Krish Kandiah, founder of Sanctuary Foundation, a charity that advocates for those who have fled warzones around the world, is hosting the Great Big Live Assembly alongside 16 year old Scarlett Archer from Sky News' FYI programme. Dr Kandiah says: 'VE 80 is a unique moment for us as a nation to look back at the courage and compassion of those who gave up so much for the peace we enjoy today. By hearing from children impacted by war we show that sadly war is not history for many children, but current reality.' 'As the number of those who served in World War II diminishes, it becomes our responsibility to keep their stories alive. 'By bringing young people into the heart of this commemoration, we ensure that their sacrifices are never forgotten.'
BBC News
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Barnsley students mark VE Day anniversary
Students have marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two by researching their own families' College have created a digital mosaic that recreates the moment Winston Churchill announced "victory in Europe" from the Whitehall balcony on 8 May 1945 - which became known as VE royal pageant master Bruno Peek, who served Queen Elizabeth II for more than 40 years, has collaborated on the VE Day 80 Akeroyd, chief executive of Barnsley College, said he was "incredibly proud" of his students' work. He added: "This initiative demonstrates how today's young people value unity and shared ideals."Students helped to develop bespoke software for the campaign and also interviewed Barnsley residents to gather stories and who took part said it had helped them understand more about the sacrifices their own families made during the Firth, 17, said his great-grandfather was a factory mechanic during the said: "We as young people should remember what happened, these were our relatives. It's the reason I'm here today."Alex Heron, also 17, added: "I knew nothing about the celebrations, and I think it's important we remember the celebrations and not just the tragedy." Local logistics firm Thomas Hardie Commercials has donated a lorry wrapped in a VE Day 80 livery to support the project. The company runs a programme that helps military veterans to train as HGV drivers and secure jobs in the Wilson of Thomas Hardie said: "We're proud to support VE Day 80. By investing in our veterans, we're investing in both them and the logistics sector."Mr Peek, who will retire from his royal role after the commemorations, praised the dedication and creativity of the college students."The work Barnsley College has created for VE Day 80 is truly remarkable, it's a testament to the passion and hard work of these students."The mosaic will be unveiled on 8 May. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
The Independent
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Pageant master hopes to start nationwide singalong to mark 80 years since VE Day
A pageant master for Queen Elizabeth II is aiming to create a nationwide singalong to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and help 'bring the nation together'. Bruno Peek, 74, from Gorleston-on-Sea in Norfolk, masterminded worldwide beacon tributes for the late Queen's golden, diamond and platinum jubilees, and has now set his sights on commemorating the 80th anniversary since the end of the Second World War in Europe. He has proposed the nation comes together at 9.30pm on May 8 to sing the hymn I Vow To Thee My Country as a way of encouraging Britons to celebrate VE Day. We want the whole country... to stop what they're doing, stand up and sing this wonderful British hymn together Bruno Peek Mr Peek, who staged the Millennium Beacon project, was made an OBE in 2000 and became a Commander of the Royal Victoria Order (RVO) in 2022, but he said seeing the nation sing together would be his 'biggest achievement'. 'We want the whole country, whether they're involved in VE Day or not… to stop what they're doing, stand up and sing this wonderful British hymn together, bringing the whole nation together in one special moment in time,' he told the PA news agency. 'I just felt there must be something that can bring people together that doesn't have any political, religious or any other overtones, that people can sing with a simple heart without feeling they are being pressured to sing it for somebody else. 'They're singing it for them (the fallen soldiers) but what they're doing by singing for them, they're singing it together. 'This is what we want in this world at the moment.' Mr Peek said he has spent months organising events to mark VE Day and he hopes to 'pay tribute to Scotland' this year. He has organised 20 bagpipe players across Scotland to play a rendition of Celebratum, composed by famous piper Stuart Liddell, every morning for 80 days to count down the days to VE Day, starting at midday on February 12 until midday on May 8. 'When people think of World War Two, like World War One, so many just think it's England, but they forget the sacrifice the Scots, Welsh and Irish made too,' he explained. 'For VE Day, I thought I'd kick off the 80-day countdown based in Scotland, so it gives Scotland the opportunity to pay tribute to the thousands of Scotsmen that sacrificed so much for the freedom we all enjoy today.' Pipe Major Lady Jane Macrae, who has been friends with Mr Peek for more than 20 years, will lead the first day of the 80-day countdown. The pipers will play at various locations including Edinburgh, Balmoral, Blair, Ardrveck and the Castle of Mey. Mr Peek said more than 600 town criers across the UK will take part in events and church bells will ring to mark VE Day. His aim is to involve local people and highlight the 'grassroots communities celebrating what their relatives did for them'. A beacon lighting ceremony will take place on VE Day to remember those who died in the war and to commemorate the last survivors. 'I've always said the light from the beacons always represents the light of peace that emerged from the dreadful darkness of war,' Mr Peek said. 'It will be one of the last (events) where survivors are around to say thank you to the people who did so much for us. 'Let's come together, celebrate and commemorate the millions who sacrificed their lives at home and abroad, so that we enjoy the freedom we do today.'
