VE Day celebrations across the North West

A crowd of people - young and old - gather to celebrate the end of the war in Europe. They are smiling as they huddle together for the photograph. Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

People gathered across the country 80 years ago on 8 May 1945 in celebration

  • Published

Celebrations are set to take place across the North West to mark Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

On 8 May 1945, people around the world celebrated Germany's surrender, which had been agreed the previous day.

Victory in Europe (VE Day) comes comes ahead of Victory in Japan Day (VJ Day) on 15 August, which commemorates the ultimate end of the 1939 - 1945 conflict.

Here is a selection of events being held across the region to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

Lancashire

Blackburn

A service will be held at 16:00 BST on 11 May at Blackburn Cathedral.

Prior to the service, a parade , externalled by the Band of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment with the Band of the Lancashire Artillery Volunteers will take place through the town centre, with cadets, scouts and guides from organisations across the county.

Preston

A street party including live music, food, games and a quiz, external is due to take place at The Wilbraham Club on Geoffrey Street in Preston from 12:00 – 18:00 on Monday.

A celebration event with a choir, Morris dancing and a ukulele band, external is planned at Whitechapel Village Hall in Preston from 11:00 – 15:00 on Monday.

Beacon lighting, external event featuring a choir will take place at the Flag Market at 20:45 - 21:30 on Thursday.

Burnley

A VE event with military vehicles, stalls and a lone piper performance, external is set to take place at the Read and Simonstone Constitutional Club in Read, near Padiham, from 12:00 – 17:00 on Monday. Guests are asked to wear 1940s clothes.

Veterans and civic guests will gather outside Burnley Town Hall at 08:55 on Thursday to hear a proclamation of freedom, democracy and peace,, external followed by the raising of the VE80 Day flag.

A service of remembrance, external will take place at the Peace Gardens, located between Burnley Central Library and Thompson Car Park, at 11:00 on Thursday.

Beacon lighting and lantern tribute, external is planned at at the Singing Ringing Tree on Crown Point from 20:45 - 22:00 on Thursday.

Chorley

A VE Day proclamation will be read, external out by town crier outside Chorley Town Hall at 09:00 on Thursday.

Rivington Pike will be illuminated with light projections, external from 21:00 on Thursday.

A beacon will be lit at the war memorial, external at Astley Memorial Park in Chorley at 21:30 on Thursday. It will include a tribute read by the Mayor of Chorley Gordon France and music by Rivington and Adlington Brass Band.

Picnic in the Park, external with a VE Day theme will take place at Astley Park in Chorley from 12:00 to 16:00 on 11 May.

Ribble Valley

An all-day party featuring a wartime singalong with a community choir as well as 1940s ballroom dancing is due to be held at St Mary's Community Hall in Sabden on Saturday.

The council will raise the official VE Day flag, external at Clitheroe Castle to mark the start of the day-long celebrations on Thursday.

A beacon lighting, external will take place at the castle at 21:30 with music from Clitheroe Town Band and the choir from St Mary's Church in Clitheroe.

Morecambe

A flag-raising ceremony is scheduled at 11:00 on Thursday at Morecambe Town Hall.

Morecambe Brass Band will perform a variety of songs at The Platform in Morecambe at 19:00 on Thursday.

A beacon lighting will take place at the bottom of the stone jetty between the Midland Hotel and the RNLI station in Morecambe at 21:30 on Thursday.

Blackpool

A flag-raising ceremony, external is set to be held at the Town Hall on Talbot Square from 08:45 - 09:00 on Thursday.

A ceremony of reflection, external is planned for 11:00 at the Fylde Arboretum and Memorial Garden on Moor Park Avenue.

A celebration event hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire's Hayley Kay, external is planned on Tower Festival Headland, Blackpool Promenade from 19:30 - 21:30. There will be performances from Dad's Army Band and a George Formby tribute. Singer Beverley Alexander will lead a communal rendition of I Vow to Thee My Country.

Blackpool will join the national beacon-lighting ceremony by illuminating Blackpool Tower in red, white and blue at 21:30.

Fylde

There will be music and speeches, external at a celebration event at Fairhaven Lake from 18:30 on Thursday.

Hyndburn

An evening of entertainment and reflection, external will take place at Immanuel Parish Church in Oswaldtwistle at 19:30 on Thursday.

Men, women and children are celebrating VE Day in the street. In the background is a row of terraced houses adorned with flags. Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

Eight years ago, men, women and children gathered in the street to celebrate

Greater Manchester

Manchester

At least 20 street parties will be held across Manchester to mark Victory in Europe (VE) Day on Monday.

Oldham

A parade featuring a brass band is due to take place at Royton Cricket Club in Oldham at 12:00.

Live performances , externalby Abbi-Kaye, also known as Viva la Vintage, will be held at Tommyfield Market at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00 on Thursday.

A commemorative message card, external will be located at Spindles - outside Next - where the public can sign and share their thoughts, which will be displayed for everyone to read on Thursday.

Oldham's Civic Centre will be illuminated, external for the final time, marking a tribute to those who served and reflecting on the end of an era for the building on Thursday.

Bury

A service of remembrance, external is due to be held at Bury Parish Church at 18:15 on Thursday including a proclamation, the lighting of a candle of peace, and sharing memories of Bury from 19:45.

Salford

A commemorative event, external will take place in the sunken gardens at the front of Salford Civic Centre from 21:00 on Thursday. It includes a specially-commissioned fire and light installation from Walk the Plank, lasting for 80 minutes, and a soundtrack of spoken voices created by a local artist featuring people of Salford's reflections on peace.

Bolton

A civic service, external will take place at Bolton Parish Church at 19:30 on Thursday, followed by the beacon lighting at the top of the church tower at 21:30.

Wigan

A military-themed event featuring a band, external is planned at Mesnes Park in Wigan from 11:00 – 16:00 on 10 May.

Stockport

A tea dance, external is due to take place at Stockport Town Hall from 13:00 -16:00 on Wednesday.

The 'We Can't Celebrate; The War isn't Over Yet', external exhibition opens to the public at War Memorial Art Gallery on 9 May.

Rochdale

A service is to be held, external at Rochdale Cenotaph on The Esplanade from 10:45 - 11:30 on Thursday.

Mr G. Zlatoper, of the BBC Balkans Section, is on a balcony overlooking the joyous crowds in Piccadilly Circus London on 8 May 1945. He is preparing a commentary for the French programmes of the BBC European Service.
Image caption,

Mr G. Zlatoper is preparing to broadcast on the BBC on 8 May 1945 as crowds gather together

Merseyside and Halton

Liverpool

A 50-piece band comprising, external the Liverpool Scottish Regimental Association Pipes and Drums accompanied by The Scot Guards Association Pipes & Drums, the Wirral Pipe Band and the 103 Artillery Pipes and Drums will perform a selection of tunes on Sunday at 13:00 outside Liverpool Town Hall on Castle Street.

The bells at Liverpool's two cathedrals and Liverpool Parish Church will ring out , externalat 18:30. Four beacons behind Liverpool Town Hall will also be lit as a symbol of peace and remembrance at 21:30 accompanied by civic dignitary speeches and a lone piper.

Knowsley

Landmarks including the Greystone Road Bridge on the M62 and Archway Road railway bridge will be illuminated in red, white and blue between 5 and 8 May.

The church bells will ring, external at 11:00 on Thursday at St Mary's Church in Prescot.

Halton

A celebration event is due to be held at Victoria Park in Widnes from 12:00 - 16:00 on Sunday including an inflatable assault course, face painting, arts and crafts, paintball, and live music at the bandstand.

Local schools will also honour soldiers named on the Cenotaph, external by labelling crosses, followed by a short service.

Sefton

A VE Day party with live music is due to take place at the Thatch & Thistle pub on Allerton Road in Southport from 12:00 - 16:00 on Sunday.

Wirral

A garden party is due to take place at St Mary's Church on Withens Lane in Wallasey on Monday, with refreshments including cake and sandwiches. The bells will ring at 13:00.

A commemoration service, external will be held at 14:00 followed by an afternoon of entertainment at Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton on Thursday.

St Helens

A VE celebration is due to be held at Rainford Village Hall in St Helens in partnership with Standing Tall Foundation from 13:00 – 16:00 on Thursday. Children from the local schools will read a poem and sing.

Huge crowds have descended on Trafalgar Square in London to celebrate VE Day. Hundreds of people are standing should to shoulder in this aerial-view image. Image source, PA Media
Image caption,

Hundreds of people gathered together across the country - including in Trafalgar Square in London - to celebrate

Cheshire

Chester

A service is due to take place, external at Chester Cathedral at 17:30 on Thursday followed by a concert at Chester Town Hall Square at 20:30. The lighting of the beacon of peace will take place at 21:30 outside Chester Town Hall.

Cheshire West and Cheshire

More details of events organised by parish and town councils in the Cheshire West and Cheshire constituency can be found here., external

Warrington

A celebration event - hosted by The Warrington Armed Forces Community Support Hub in partnership with The Bunker - will be held at Orford Park from 11:00 on 10 May.

  • Send details of your VE Day events and celebrations to lauren.hirst@bbc.co.uk

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