27-04-2025
Salisbury care home to host 1940s-themed street party to mark VE Day
A Salibury care home is set to host a 1940s-themed street party to celebrate 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
Salisbury Manor, on Shapland Close, will open its doors to the community on Thursday, May 8, from 2.30pm to 4pm, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
VE Day, which was celebrated on May 8, 1945, marked the end of the war in Europe after Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced the news on the radio.
This sparked spontaneous street parties and celebrations across the country.
The team at Salisbury Manor has been busy organising a special commemorative event, which will see residents and guests enjoy an afternoon of food and entertainment from local singer Charlie Greenwood, who will perform wartime songs.
READ MORE: VE day commemorations at Boscombe Down Aviation Collection
The mayor of Salisbury and children from Chafyn Grove will join residents, their family members, and other community members to embrace the spirit of the 1940s.
The home will be decorated with bunting, flags, sandbags, and nostalgic wartime pictures, while the Royal British Legion will also be present to share information.
Resident Tony Child said: "As Winston Churchill said on his VE Day speech, 'This is your Victory', Lest we forget."
Skye Williams, general manager at Salisbury Manor, said: "We love building and maintaining intergenerational relationships here at Salisbury Manor, so we're pleased to be opening our doors to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day for a special day of sharing memories with children from Chafyn Grove and the wider community.
"Intergenerational relationships can be incredibly beneficial to both younger and older people alike and can help provide residents with a stronger sense of wellbeing and purpose.
"It will be inspiring to see the residents sharing their experiences and memories from wartime Britain – and hopefully a fascinating history lesson for the children, too.
READ MORE: VE Day 80 beacon lighting ceremony to take place in Ringwood
"We're looking forward to marking such a significant milestone on what we anticipate will be a nostalgic and enriching day at our VE Day street party."
Salisbury Manor has officially received 'Veteran Friendly' status for meeting eight standards laid out in the Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF), a collaboration between Armed Forces charities Royal Star & Garter and Royal British Legion and NHS Veterans' Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), with funding support from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust.
The VFF framework involves noting Armed Forces status within residents' care plans, addressing social isolation, and signposting residents and their relatives to relevant support services, such as their local Royal British Legion branch and other charities that provide support for veterans and their partners.
Designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence, Salisbury Manor incorporates plenty of space for leisure activities and hobbies. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care.
To find out more about Salisbury Manor visit the Care UK website.
