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The Herald Scotland
10-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
BBC coverage of VE Day illustrates the fragility of today's UK
Anna Foster, meanwhile, was up in Coventry Cathedral to recall the Coventry Blitz, a 12-hour bombardment, the longest in the UK in World War Two. She had the better of it, I think. She was largely inside for a start. Rajan mentioned it was a bit parky down Buck House. Inevitably, in the hours before the official commemorations kicked off, there were a lot of memories shared by veterans and the families of veterans. Much was made of the fact that this may well be the last significant anniversary of VE Day in which there are still veterans of the conflict around to take part. The war - the pre-eminent event in British culture over the last eight decades - is about to slip into the shadow of the past; not for much longer a remembered event. Instead, it's shifting to a historical one. Read more How will that change things going forward? Because such public celebrations are never wholly about the past. They're narratives to tell a story about how we see ourselves now. As historian Dr Tessa Dunlop and comedian Al Murray - also described, rather curiously, as a 'lifelong World War Two enthusiast' - pointed out to Naga Munchetty over on 5 Live, in the decades after the war there were no VE Day celebrations. 'They didn't exist,' Dunlop pointed out. 'The war was over,' Murray added. It wasn't until the 1980s that they became a thing again. 'We were looking to prove that we fought the right war,' Dunlop suggested of the revival. 'It was 40 years on. And we've taken that commemorative vibe and we're run forward with it.' Boy, have we. Don't mention the war? These days we never shut up about it. The temptation, I guess, is to suggest all this Second World War cosplay is some kind of post-Brexity assertion of the UK's uniqueness. A reminder that our plucky little island stood alone against the Nazi threat (overlooking the fact that even in 1940 there was the small matter of the Commonwealth behind us). But I wonder if it is more a reflection that the UK really doesn't know what it is these days. As Scotland continues to debate the pros and cons of independence and with America an unreliable friend in this age of Trump, could it be that the past is the place we feel safest? Then again, as Al Murray also pointed out to Munchetty, it's not as if the fight against fascism can be safely consigned to history. Al Murray (Image: Ash Mills) 'With global events - what's happening in the rest of the world, in Ukraine for instance - the things that were being fought for aren't that far off.' There's a cheery thought and possibly why I turned over to Radio 2 in the afternoon for Mark Goodier's Most Played: the Billion Streamers. A follow-up to a couple of programmes the DJ helmed over Easter weekend, this was a simple idea for a broadcast. Everything played had to have racked up a billion plays (and counting) on streamers. There were a few surprise inclusions and omissions. Who knew that there's only one U2 song that so far qualifies, With or Without You? Or that Billy Joel's two tunes in the billion bracket are Uptown Girl (perhaps no real surprise) and Piano Man. Not We Didn't Start the Fire. Oh, and did you know that Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas was streamed 400,000 times at the beginning of May? Anyway, this was also a reminder that Goodier, the current presenter of Pick of the Pops, is a reliable radio voice; an unflashy, steady presence well suited to Radio 2. In an era in which the station remains obsessed with platforming comedians (Ellie Taylor being the latest, sitting in for Sara Cox; she was decent enough if a little subdued), it's good to be reminded that there is still room for radio veterans like Goodier and Tony Blackburn. And if you want a pop fact to drop at the pub this weekend? Well, in February Taylor Swift racked up 100 billion streams. Now, as it's estimated that a billion streams is worth roughly about $1m, it's safe to say, Taylor can probably afford to stand a few rounds if she ever happens to drop in to your local. Listen Out For: Pretender Prince, Radio 4, Friday, May 16, 2.15pm Jack Lowden (Image: PA) Jack Lowden, no less, is the narrator of this drama documentary covering the rise and fall of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Lorne Macdonald plays the Prince.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hundreds gather for VE Day parade
Hundreds of people have gathered for a parade as part of the 80th anniversary of VE Day in Warwickshire. About 150 soldiers from the 30 Signal and Queens Gurkha Signals regiments marched through Bedworth to mark the occasion. The parade began at the Almshouses and moved on to the high street, before heading up to the Peace Podium on Sergeant Simon Valentine Way. VE Day commemorates victory in Europe and marks the end of nearly six years of war on 8 May 1945, when Nazi Germany's forces surrendered to the allies in World War Two. Dozens of events have taken place across the area to mark the 80th anniversary, including street parties, as well as church and memorial services. In Shipston-on-Stour, a new exhibition called Shipston Remembers opened to commemorate the events of eight decades ago. The collection, at Shipston Museum, recognises the contributions of local people and includes items such as medals, ration books, war food recipes and VE Day newspapers. "These were very close-knit towns, where everybody would have known everybody," explained Stephen Hartley, museum trustee. "People have come forward with photographs, with items, who want to remember, who want to tell their family stories about the people that they hold dear and whom they respect." Bernard Maguire recalled the dancing and singing at the time and described it as a "wonderful time". "We were sat down on these trestle tables out and food used to appear from out of the houses, but we'd all been suffering from you know food shortages," he said "We'd always put a little bit by, for at the end of the war and it all came together." Doreen Knapton, aged 101, was a young mother during the war and contributed to the war effort by working in a munitions factory. "I was the littlest of the lot and the girls used to go over the fence and get apples, and I used to have to stand guard," she told the BBC. Ms Knapton's son Alwyn, who is now in his 80s, said the country's unity during the conflict should be praised. "It wasn't just the ones that were fighting, it was all those back home keeping the country going. Digging for Britain and all that sort of stuff," Mr Knapton said. "I think everybody done their bit." During the evening, an event took place in Broadgate in Coventry city centre, with people encouraged to wear clothing from the 1940s and songs from the era were performed. The Coventry Blitz - on 14 November 1940 - was the single most concentrated attack on a British city in the entire war. Hundreds of Luftwaffe bombers dropped more than 30,000 bombs there. The city council's deputy leader, Labour councillor Abdul Salam Khan, said: "We rose from those problems and became a city renowned throughout the world as a city of peace and reconciliation. "That's a badge which we wear with honour." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Knitted VE Day party appears in village 'I'm shocked by global reaction to postbox topper' VE Day at 80: What's to come - and what you might have missed Beacons to be lit across South East for VE Day VE Day 80
The Herald Scotland
06-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
What does BBC coverage of VE Day anniversary tell us about UK today?
Anna Foster, meanwhile, was up in Coventry Cathedral to recall the Coventry Blitz, a 12-hour bombardment, the longest in the UK in World War Two. She had the better of it, I think. She was largely inside for a start. Rajan mentioned it was a bit parky down Buck House. Inevitably, in the hours before the official commemorations kicked off, there were a lot of memories shared by veterans and the families of veterans. Much was made of the fact that this may well be the last significant anniversary of VE Day in which there are still veterans of the conflict around to take part. The war - the pre-eminent event in British culture over the last eight decades - is about to slip into the shadow of the past; not for much longer a remembered event. Instead, it's shifting to a historical one. Read more How will that change things going forward? Because such public celebrations are never wholly about the past. They're narratives to tell a story about how we see ourselves now. As historian Dr Tessa Dunlop and comedian Al Murray - also described, rather curiously, as a 'lifelong World War Two enthusiast' - pointed out to Naga Munchetty over on 5 Live, in the decades after the war there were no VE Day celebrations. 'They didn't exist,' Dunlop pointed out. 'The war was over,' Murray added. It wasn't until the 1980s that they became a thing again. 'We were looking to prove that we fought the right war,' Dunlop suggested of the revival. 'It was 40 years on. And we've taken that commemorative vibe and we're run forward with it.' Boy, have we. Don't mention the war? These days we never shut up about it. The temptation, I guess, is to suggest all this Second World War cosplay is some kind of post-Brexity assertion of the UK's uniqueness. A reminder that our plucky little island stood alone against the Nazi threat (overlooking the fact that even in 1940 there was the small matter of the Commonwealth behind us). But I wonder if it is more a reflection that the UK really doesn't know what it is these days. As Scotland continues to debate the pros and cons of independence and with America an unreliable friend in this age of Trump, could it be that the past is the place we feel safest? Then again, as Al Murray also pointed out to Munchetty, it's not as if the fight against fascism can be safely consigned to history. Al Murray (Image: Ash Mills) 'With global events - what's happening in the rest of the world, in Ukraine for instance - the things that were being fought for aren't that far off.' There's a cheery thought and possibly why I turned over to Radio 2 in the afternoon for Mark Goodier's Most Played: the Billion Streamers. A follow-up to a couple of programmes the DJ helmed over Easter weekend, this was a simple idea for a broadcast. Everything played had to have racked up a billion plays (and counting) on streamers. There were a few surprise inclusions and omissions. Who knew that there's only one U2 song that so far qualifies, With or Without You? Or that Billy Joel's two tunes in the billion bracket are Uptown Girl (perhaps no real surprise) and Piano Man. Not We Didn't Start the Fire. Oh, and did you know that Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas was streamed 400,000 times at the beginning of May? Anyway, this was also a reminder that Goodier, the current presenter of Pick of the Pops, is a reliable radio voice; an unflashy, steady presence well suited to Radio 2. In an era in which the station remains obsessed with platforming comedians (Ellie Taylor being the latest, sitting in for Sara Cox; she was decent enough if a little subdued), it's good to be reminded that there is still room for radio veterans like Goodier and Tony Blackburn. And if you want a pop fact to drop at the pub this weekend? Well, in February Taylor Swift racked up 100 billion streams. Now, as it's estimated that a billion streams is worth roughly about $1m, it's safe to say, Taylor can probably afford to stand a few rounds if she ever happens to drop in to your local. Listen Out For: Pretender Prince, Radio 4, Friday, May 16, 2.15pm Jack Lowden (Image: PA) Jack Lowden, no less, is the narrator of this drama documentary covering the rise and fall of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Lorne Macdonald plays the Prince.
BBC News
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
West Midlands half term activities to keep your children busy
With schools in the West Midlands breaking up for half term, local organisations and councils have scheduled plenty of events and activities to ensure children are entertained throughout the well as trips to popular venues like Alton Towers, families also have a choice of a wide range of educational days we have listed a handful of the activities that have been scheduled to take place over the next week. Birmingham and Black Country Animal lovers can head to Forge Mill Farm in West Bromwich for lambing week, where they can explore the barns and and meet some of the new born lambs and kids.A forest school is also being held at the Castle Bromwich Historic Gardens where both children and their parents can explore those more artistically minded, there are free family and community crafts sessions being held at the Roundhouse Birmingham across the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is also hosting a Gardens Art Club, during which they will be exploring the beauty of winter activities and events are listed on the Visit Birmingham website. Coventry and Warwickshire Coventry Transport Museum has encouraged families to explore its "open-ended play environment" for children who love everything Blitz Museum is also reopening for half term, giving youngsters and adults an opportunity to explore what life was like for people living through the Coventry Blitz in 1940. Meanwhile, Kenilworth Castle will be putting on its half-term history makers event, with bZents Theatre Company presenting Tales of Robin Butterfly Farm will also have their leafcutter ants, which arrived at the farm in August, on display throughout the week. Herefordshire Herefordshire County Council has outlined a number of activities for families taking place at the Black and White House Museum in include the Hoard at the House Trail, where visitors can uncover hidden treasures of the county's past, and a Bank Heist Trail. Replicas from the Herefordshire Hoard will also be viewable as part of a display encouraging people to learn the history behind the items and their exclusive tours will see the museum's curators talking people through the historical significance of the hoard. Worcestershire Attwell Farm Park in Redditch will be offering families a chance to meet its new arrivals while children can take advantage of the sand play Living History Festival will also be taking place at the Commandery in Worcester on 22 and 23 February, with the chance to watch military displays and re-enactors throughout the museum and Midlands Safari Park in Bewdley is hosting its character week with children able to meet their favourite TV characters, including Bluey and Peppa Pig. Shropshire There are activities planned over half-term in connection with the Darwin Shrewsbury Festival, celebrating the birth of the town's most famous son Charles Darwin.A Lego workshop, fossils and educational talks, will be held at various venues around the taking part in Shrewsbury Parkrun will also be asked to get into the spirit by wearing Darwin-inspired outfits. Staffordshire The activities suggested by Staffordshire County Council include the Pirate Takeover at Alton Towers Resort throughout the authority also recommended searching for fairies in the vast gardens of the Trentham Estate as well as visiting the Trentham Monkey Forest next can also get up close with the farmyard animals and let off some steam in the play areas at Lower Drayton Farm, near families can explore the beautiful woodland in Cannock Chase Forest as well as tackle the pedal and play beginners mountain bike activities include making a splash on the flumes at Waterworld in Hanley, hitting the slopes of the Snowdome in Tamworth and getting your hands dirty at the National Forest Adventure Farm in Burton. Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Art Gallery has a number of family-friendly events taking place throughout the include the opportunity for visitors to create their own AI-generated portrait of a fisherman on Wednesday in the style of Sam Wootton's Men Holding Fish and children can also drop into the gallery on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday to help the team create an animated film about "greening the city". Metallic wing-making will be held on Thursday too, with budding artists able to learn embossed foil art techniques to make their own majestic, wearable wings. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
