VE Day 2020

Tomorrow is a special day. A very, very special day. It is an important date as we celebrate the end of the Second World War in Europe. VE Day as it is known, with “VE” standing for “Victory in Europe.”

Mayday bank holiday has been moved this year from it’s more traditional first Monday in May to tomorrow. This was so it would enable us to celebrate Mayday alongside VE Day.

Of course with the way things are, celebrations have had to be improvised. It’s very important to stress that. The celebrations are to be improvised to fit in with the current situation we find ourselves in. They certainly haven’t been cancelled in any way.

VE Day 2020 How To Celebrate

Here in Chester there are plenty of things going on to keep you occupied and, very importantly, keep you safe.

You may or may not have seen the video produced by the residents of Cambrian Road, Chester. They have set their celebrations to music. All produced, choreographed and performed by residents of Cambrian Road. A very special performance (for good behaviour) from Dotty, one of the residents dogs.

You can see more details of the Cambrian Road celebrations, entitled “We’ll Meet Again” in this post HERE on my sister website “Thanks To Alfie.” Have a read and a look at the video. It has been expertly put together. Hats off to all those concerned. A truly excellent effort.

VE Day 2020 – What Else To Expect In Chester

First to mention is that there has been a range of online activities arranged for the occasion.

Let’s have a look at some of them. The Lord Mayor of Chester will be delivering a Civic VE Day service. It has already been pre-recorded and it will be available online from 8th May. See below for the link.

The service will include messages from military personnel, school children, local dignitaries and the clergy. Each recording has either been recorded from their own homes and from on board HMS Albion.

At 9pm on 8th May there is a UK wide rendition of Dame Vera Lynn’s classic, “We’ll Meet Again.” Chester residents are being requested to join in to help commemorate the occasion.

Chester residents are again invited to join in with another rendition. This time one performed by Chester singer, Sharon Wallace. I’ve just realised, Sharon is not on my “Famous People From Chester” Hall of Fame page. I’ll have to remedy that.

VE Day – Chester City Centre

Over this Bank Holiday weekend Chester Town Hall will be decorated in red, white and blue Union Jack flags. Also, the Cathedral will still take part in the national ringing out for peace at 7pm on May 8.

I love The Groves and the Chester Bandstand area. I do miss that area during these times. My bench will be missing me!! It’s good to see then that there is a plan for Chester Bandstand to host a special online performance for VE Day.

VE Day Celebrations – Lockdown Restrictions Or Not

Although we are still in this lockdown situation we can still all play our part in remembering the heroism and sacrifices made 75 years ago. So, at 3pm when there will be “The Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of World War II,” grab yourself a drink. Whatever your preferred tipple would be at that time of the day, raise you cup or glass and toast “those who gave so much.”

VE Day 1945 – How Chester Celebrated

When Victory in Europe was announced Chester celebrated in style. At the Gaumont Cinema the audience rose and cheered when the news broke of the war ending and sang God Save the King. Also loudspeakers were fixed outside the Town Hall and some 5,000 people danced in celebration to the popular music broadcast.

NB: For those wondering, the Gaumont Cinema is now the Mecca Bingo in Brookdale Place by Cow Lane Bridge.

VE Day Diary Of Events

To plan your day, there’s a broad timetable of events below with the relevant links. Some of the events are local, some are national.

• Friday 8 

• Chester Town Hall bunting and VE Day flag.
• 10.30am VE day flag West Cheshire Museums (westcheshiremuseums.co.uk/find-us-facebook)

• 10.30am VE day flag video (www.facebook.com/cwaclibrary)
• 11am – a two minute silence to remember and pay tribute to those who didn’t live to see peacetime.
• 12noon VE Day service

• 12noon montage of Cheshire war related photos (www.facebook.com/cwaclibrary)
• 12.30pm Chester Bandstand presents a VE Day Tribute (www.facebook.com/chesterbandstand)
• 1pm Wartime songs with Doodlebugs – video (www.facebook.com/cwaclibrary)
• 2.30pm poem (www.facebook.com/cwaclibrary)
• 2.55pm The Last Post (national event)
• 3pm VE Day Toast (national event)
• 3pm Cheshire home Guard celebrate VE Day with their own garden party.
• 4pm Owen Powell talk (www.facebook.com/cwaclibrary)
• 5pm ‘What did you do in the war Deva’ Emma Stuart #whatareyoureading (www.facebook.com/cwaclibrary)
• 9pm Address to the Nation by Her Majesty the Queen
• 9pm Sharon Wallace – We’ll Meet Again

Celebrate VE Day Safely

To celebrate and commemorate safely, remember to stay home. As you all well know now, staying home helps to protect the NHS and it saves lives.

VE Day Nationwide

There will no doubt be many VE Day celebrations going on throughout the country. All I’ll add in this section is news of the national events going on and the ones that the BBC are planning. To see the national events going on, click this link HERE.

To see what the BBC have planned on TV and radio head on over to HERE.

Whatever you have planned, enjoy whatever it is you do. Get the bunting out. Enjoy your safe garden party. Raise a glass. And a message to “those who gave so much” – “Thank You”

Having Polish parentage and whose father was in the Polish Air Force and the RAF, may I add my message to my Polish cousins – “Narodowy Dzień Zwycięstwa” (National Victory Day)

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

Thank you for reading my latest Chester Lifestyle blog post. And thank you for visiting my website. Much appreciated. To see all my other blog posts, click HERE.

Please Note

I earn commissions from Amazon for any qualifying purchases made from my Chester Lifestyle website.

Shop Safely And Securely From Amazon