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BBC News
03-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Church bells and beacons to mark VE day in Berkshire
Church bells will ring out and beacons will be lit across Berkshire as it commemorates 80 years since VE 8 May marks the anniversary of the day fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe came to an end in 1945.A number of events including historical talks, a market, parades and services are being held across the county for the occasion, both on the anniversary itself and over the early May bank parties are also being held in some areas such as Holyport and Sunningdale in Maidenhead, resulting in road closures. Celebrations begin on Sunday, with a Big Lunch hosted by Binfield Parish Council in Farley Wood Community council has promised live music, entertainment, rides and a range of food and drink stalls, with attendees encouraged to dress up in 1940s outfits, or red, white and Monday, residents can visit the Best of British Market on The Broadway in Thatcham for food stalls including British cheese and honey, crafts and jewellery, and Slough, residents can visit St George's CofE Church on Long Furlong Drive for food from around the world, games from the 1940s, face painting and henna painting, among other those looking to learn more about the history, Project Purley is hosting an exhibition and a talk by historian Mike Cooper, teaching people all about the role Purley played in the war and what happened in Europe in 1945. On Thursday, the anniversary itself, a number of services are being held across flag will be raised at Foxley Fields at 09:00 BST, and that evening there will be a military parade, garden games and live music, before the lighting of the beacon. At the war memorial in Woodford Park in Woodley, the town mayor will lay a wreath ahead of the lighting of the will also be lit at the Butchers Arms Pub on Sonning Common and School Green War Memorial in Newbury, a service will be held at the war memorial, followed by a celebration lunch for over-65s at Fair Close Day festivities carry on into next weekend, with community celebrations in Victoria Park, Newbury, from 11:00 to 15:00 on Saturday 10 May. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Saltash prepares for musical VE Day celebrations
Residents in a Cornish town are preparing for a special musical celebration to mark the 80th anniversary of VE 8 May marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe. As part of the celebrations, Saltash has been busy organising and rehearsing for their celebration of music, drama and is believed 122 people from Saltash died during the war and their sacrifice will be high in people's minds during the commemorations. Community workshops are being held twice-weekly to get the Saltash VE 80 choir in order and in Barnicoat, the choir's musical director, has written and composed a new score for the concert"I have chosen to write music that has a certain amount of period flavour, but also a lot of 21st Century flavour as well, in order to make the whole project more accessible and more understandable, especially to younger people," he said."You are always up against a time limit but we're doing very well and we have a very very supportive choir... and it's working well and we will have an amazing concert, I am sure." Jane Smith, who has volunteered to perform, she said: "I haven't sung in a choir since I was at school, I'm not the most brilliant singer, but I heard it was a community choir and so I came along."I've really enjoyed it and had a great time and maybe when it's all finished I will then go and join a choir."The festivities are being funded by The Sue Hooper Charitable Foundation, founder Sue Hooper added: "Saltash celebrates and commemorates VE Day because we had 122 fallen during the Second World War, including 15 civilians, and we wanted to play our part as we have done with so many special anniversaries as a community."The VE 80 community workshops are being held on Tuesdays, in the afternoon at Burraton Methodist Chapel and in the evenings at Ashtorre Rock on the Waterside.
