Friday 8 May marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day – the official end of the Second World War in Europe.
In line with government advice, Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) events have been scaled back nationally. However, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate and mark the anniversary whilst staying safe at home.
We want everyone to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day safely. We may not be able to have the public celebrations many people planned, but we can still remember the heroes of WWII,” said Councillor Chris Mitchell, Worcester City Council’s Armed Forces Champion who spent 20 years in the Army himself.
Celebrate in your own home, or back garden if you have one, but please do not be tempted to visit relatives or friends. When the time is right, we will be able to get together and mark this momentous event as a community.
Worcester's official video tribute
Ways you can commemorate VE Day
- Join Worcester Cathedral's Live Stream on Facebook
- 10:59: Live Stream Begins
- 12:00: Two minutes silence
- 12:02: Prayer and acts of commitment
- Pause for a Two Minute Silence at 11am and watch stories and memories from those who served and sacrificed during the Second World War
- Join ‘The Nation’s Toast’ at 3pm – raise a glass with the nation to the heroes of WWII (broadcast starts at 2.45pm on BBC1)
- Take part in a VE Day lockdown quiz! Questions to be posted on our Worcester Facebook page on Monday evening (4 May)
- Learn about rationing – and design your own rationing packaging!
- Decorate your home in red, white and blue. Print and colour in bunting to display in your windows
- Download the activity toolkit including poster templates - and display them in your window or post to social media
- Read the story of HMS Worcester, W-class destroyer (goes live on 8 May)
- View Worcester’s official video tribute – including poems and a reading of Churchill’s Victory Speech. The video will be posted here on 8 May.
- Watch further VE Day 75 special broadcasts on the BBC, including extracts from Churchill’s famous victory speech and Her Majesty The Queen addressing the nation at 9pm
- Take part in a national singalong of Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll meet again’
- Visit the VE Day 75 website to learn about the history of the war.
- Share your VE Day activities on social media using the #VEDay75Worc hashtag
