THE 80TH anniversary of VE Day will be marked with events across the district.
The area will join in with towns and cities across the country on Thursday May 8 to commemorate 80 years since Victory in Europe which marked the end of world war two.
At 9am, Warwick’s town crier, Michael Reddy, will read ‘The VE Day 80 Proclamation’ Warwick’s Town Crier, from the top of Market Hall Museum.
A commemorative ‘VE Day 80’ flag will be raised at 9am at the Town Hall in Leamington, by the chairman of Warwick District Council, Coun Rob Margrave, and representatives from the towns and Royal British Legion.
The Leamington branch of the Royal British Legion will be holding a short service at the war memorial on Euston Place at 6.30pm, with a reading by Father Christopher Wilson from All Saints Church.
From 7.30pm, the district will join the nation in lighting the beacon at Newbold Comyn. Refreshments including pizza, coffee and cake will be available to purchase, with music by Royal Spa Brass starting at 8.30pm.
The ‘VE Day 80 Tribute’ will be read by Leamington mayor Coun Judith Clarke, followed by a short speech by WDC’s chairman when the beacon is lit at 9.30pm.
The reading of the Proclamation in the morning and the lighting of the beacon at Newbold Comyn in the evening will both be live streamed on WDC’s Facebook page.
From 7.30pm to 9.30pm, Kenilworth Town Council will be hosting a commemorative event at Kenilworth Castle featuring a service by the Royal British Legion, a performance by local school choirs, a piper and the lighting of a beacon in one of the castle’s towers.
Coun Margave said: “It is a privilege to be part of Warwick district’s VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations, commemorating the end of the conflict in Europe and acknowledging the bravery and sacrifice of those that fought so hard for our freedoms.
“I’d be delighted to see residents join us at Newbold Comyn to light the beacon and to use it as an opportunity to pause and reflect.”
*Warwick’s military museums and Visitor Information Centre will also be celebrating the anniversary with special exhibitions and talks.
Temporary exhibitions at The Fusilier Museum Warwick and Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum will tell the stories of the regiments during the final days of war.
The Lord Leycester will be holding an event from 11am to 3pm on Thursday May 8, where visitors can hear the stories of Masters and Brethren involved with world war two.
And Warwick Town Council will be holding a 1940s fish and chip supper in the Court House ballroom on Friday May 9 with music from period singer Ruby Rouge and dressing-up encouraged.
