VE Day anniversary 2020 events in Portsmouth, Gosport, Fareham and Hampshire

The day, which is also know as Victory in Europe Day, commemorates the Allies accepting the surrender of Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

This took place on May 8, 1945 – and to mark the 75th anniversary the early May bank holiday has been moved to Friday.

However the pandemic has put a damper on plans to celebrate the VE Day anniversary but there are still plenty of things going on across our area and the country.

Here are the events taking place this week:

Portsmouth

Royal Navy ships will blare their sirens and shine search lights to pierce the darkness at 9.30pm on Friday, May 8.

A stay-at-home party has been organised for Woodfield Avenue, Farlington by nurse Lisa Alderton.

She said: ‘I just wanted to bring the community together and to boost the morale of people stuck indoors.’

It will take place on Friday.

There is going to be a social distanced street party in Dunn Close, Southsea, on May 8, with food, drink and music.

Just after 3pm on Friday, Portsmouth City Council will be broadcasting the speech Winston Churchill made on May 8, 1945.

Following the speech, the council will also share personal accounts from Portsmouth residents, voiced by local actors from local drama group Victoryland.

The broadcast will take place via PCC’s social media channels.

In Selsey Street, Southsea, the street will be decorated with bunting on Thursday, May 7.

While Allens Road, Southsea, has had to postpone its street party, there will be a toast at 3pm on May 8 and a few residents are decorating their own.

Publican Mark Dawson from The Ship is dropping bottles of beer on his neighbours’ doorsteps so they can still enjoy a toast from their driveways.

There will be a VE Day garden party for some of the residents in Pembroke Park, Old Portsmouth on May 8.

Organisers have asked people to join in safely from their gardens. They will have some music playing, will raise a toast, sing proudly and have asked people at 3.30pm to join us for a dance.

On Sunday, May 10, at 11am, Portsmouth Cathedral will lead a service of commemoration and remembrance to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

You can watch the service via the cathedral’s YouTube page by clicking this link here.

Gosport

In Selsey Avenue, Gosport there will be a social distanced street party to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE day.

There will be live music and a sing along, with a toast to the heroes at 3pm.

Martin Heighway, from Gosport, will be running an online VE themed pub quiz to raise money for Talbot House – you can take part in the quiz for a small fee by clicking this link here.

SEE ALSO: Bunting for VE Day: where to get Union Jack flags and decorations for bank holiday - and how to make your own

Fareham

More than 150 families are expected to take part in a stay-at-home party in Elmhurst Road and Belvoir Close, in Fareham on Friday.

Ashley Billinghurst said: ‘We have got a great community here but at the moment, because people can’t see each other, community spirit has become even more important.’

In Paxton Road, Farehamm, residents are planning a street party, with decorated houses, an outdoor picnic, a street quiz, and plenty of socially distanced games on May 8.

Hampshire County Council

Hampshire County Council is celebrating VE Day 75 with a specially produced video with personal reflections and a special performance from the Military Wives Choir.

The special commemorative film brings together archive footage, with reflections from the Leader of the County Council, the Executive Member with responsibility for Armed Forces, the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Colonel Simon Browne OBE - Deputy Commander 11th Infantry Brigade and the Dean of Winchester Cathedral, as well as the haunting voices of the Military Wives Choir.

It will be aired live at 10.30am on May 8 across the council’s social media channels and on its website.

National events

There will be a two minute silence at 11am on May 8.

Solo buglers/trumpeters/cornet players are being encouraged to play the Last Post at 2.55pm on Friday.

Town Criers are encouraged to do Crying out for Peace at 6.55pm on May 8.

The BBC will broadcast Winston Churchill’s speech at 3pm.

The Royal British Legion is doing an 80 minute livestream from 11.15am.

There will also be a UK-wide singalong to Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ at 9pm on Friday.

Do you have any VE Day events you have organised – contact [email protected] to have it added to this story.

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