VJ DAY commemorations will be taking place in Warwick district to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
A service will be held at St Margaret’s Church in Whitnash to commemorate Victory in Japan Day on Sunday (August 10).
The following day Whitnash Town Council will raise the Union flag and County flag to mark the occasion, with over 100 poppies being placed on lampposts through the town.
A special commemorative flag will be raised at Leamington Town Hall at 9.30am on Friday August 15 – the actual day of the anniversary – by Warwick District Council, chairman Coun Naveen Tangri, with local mayors and representatives from the Royal British Legion.
Kenilworth Town Council and the Kenilworth Royal British Legion will be holding a short service the same day at the town’s War Memorial at Abbey End at 11am, and all residents are welcome to attend
And residents across the district are encouraged to take part in the national two-minute silence at noon.
At 6.30pm in Warwick, St Mary’s Church will be holding a special bellringing tribute to honour those who served in the Far East. The tribute offers the chance to see and hear the bells rung full circle in the traditional English style, just as they were rung 80 years ago to celebrate peace.
At the same time in Leamington, the Royal British Legion branch and All Saints Church will be holding a service at the War Memorial on Euston Place.
And from 7pm, the district will join the nation in lighting the beacon at Newbold Comyn. Refreshments will be available to buy, with music starting at 7.30pm. The beacon will be lit at 8.30pm and will be live streamed on WDC’s Facebook page.
Coun Tangri said: “It is a privilege to be part of Warwick district’s VJ Day 80th anniversary celebrations, commemorating the end of the Second World War and acknowledging the bravery and sacrifice of those that fought so hard for our freedoms.
Kenilworth Town Council is also looking to collate and publish local memories and connections of town residents to Victory in Japan and the conflict in the Far East. Any resident who has a relative who was a prisoner of war, linked to the Burma Campaign or involved in the Pacific Theatre, and are happy to share your memories with the town council and for these to be displayed on their website, should send these by email to [email protected]
