10.30, Friday, 8 May
To mark the 75th anniversary of victory for Europe over Germany in the Second World War, Hampshire County Council is celebrating with a specially produced video with personal reflections and a special performance from the Military Wives Choir.
Leader of the County Council, Councillor Keith Mans, said: “We will be joining communities across Hampshire and the UK virtually this year to respectfully mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Hampshire has a strong and proud military history with many local residents having made the ultimate sacrifice all those years ago. We are forever in their debt, and while we may not be able to come together physically to mark this important occasion, we hope local residents will be able to join us virtually as we remember those who gave their lives during the Second World War and the date that peace was declared in Europe.”
The County Council’s 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.
Councillor Andrew Joy, Hampshire County Council’s Armed Forces’ Champion and Executive Member for Communities, Partnerships and External Affairs said: “During these challenging times it is important that we seize the opportunity to celebrate and remember the courage and sacrifice of all those who delivered victory to end World War II. We also want to acknowledge the ongoing and significant contribution made by our Armed Forces across the world today,and to reflect on the importance of continuing to honour our heroes both past and present.”
At 10:30am the public will be able to join the live screening on the County Council’s social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube), as well as on the County Council website.
Other events
The celebrations continue at 11:30am with a glimpse into Hampshire’s history during World War Two. Wessex Film and Sound Archive and Hampshire Archives and Local Studies will be a sharing a film screening – ‘This is Your Victory’, which includes a live introduction and online exhibition on their Facebook (@HampshireArchives) and YouTube (@WessexFilmArchive) accounts.
Hampshire Libraries have compiled a special collection of book titles, both fiction and non-fiction, about WWII, that can be downloaded and read and/or listened to through the BorrowBox app find out more.
The Local Authority’s Royal Victoria County Park has set up a dedicated VE Day Facebook group where theyare sharing activities for families in the run up to the big day as well as live streaming films and musicthroughout the day.