South commemorates VE Day

Summary

Commemorations have taken place across the south of England to mark 80 years since Victory in Europe (VE) Day, from remembrance ceremonies to woolly postbox toppers
Beacons were lit across the region at 21:30 BST
BBC South Today came live from a street party in Witney at 18:30
"We sang and laughed on VE Day in Trafalgar Square," centenarian from Oxfordshire tells the BBC
Stack of World War Two letters between teen lovers found in junk shop
"You've survived, the war's over," Spitfire pilot from Reading told
Some pilots had "never sat in a plane" before training, Berkshire Museum of Aviation says

Live Reporting

Edited by Sue Paz & Michael Stoddard, written by Nathan Briant, Charlotte Andrews, Stephen Stafford & Marcus White

The Isle of Wight's wartime secretpublished at 12:30 British Summer Time 8 May
Media caption,
How a secret piece of engineering, hidden on the Isle of Wight, fuelled Allied success
One of the reasons behind the success of D-Day and the eventual Allied victory in Europe was the remarkable technological innovations that supported the troops who landed on the Normandy beaches.
A massive bombproof pipeline - known as Pluto - went from the Isle of Wight to France to fuel the Allies' frontline as they advanced through Nazi-occupied Europe.
In pictures: World War Two in Weymouthpublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 8 May
In Dorset, seaside resorts like Weymouth lost their holiday atmosphere, with guest houses closed and barbed wire placed on beaches to prevent a potential Nazi invasion.
Weymouth became a billeting town for US and Canadian soldiers during the build-up to D-Day.
Many were part of the US 1st Division, known as the "Big Red One", who landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day.
Several hospitals were also set up in Weymouth to receive casualties who were evacuated from Normandy.
A memorial stands on the Esplanade, dedicated to the American soldiers who embarked through Weymouth.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
The seaside town of Weymouth effectively became a military barracks in the run up to D-Day
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Weymouth became a billeting town for US and Canadian soldiers
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Many were part of the US 1st Division
'We sang and laughed on VE Day in Trafalgar Square'published at 12:10 British Summer Time 8 May
Media caption,
Witney woman will 'never forget' being in Trafalgar Square on VE Day
A centenarian who celebrated VE Day in Trafalgar Square said she would "never forget it".
Dorothy Howard, from Witney, Oxfordshire, celebrated in the capital alongside hundreds of thousands of fellow jubilant Britons 80 years ago.
"[We] sang, shouted, screamed," Ms Howard said.
"I'll never forget it – the scenes of joy on everyone's face, laughing, we weren't laughing at anything really – it was just wonderful. Absolutely marvellous."
During the war, she had spent two years serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) - the women's branch of the British Army.
What is VE Day and why do we remember?published at 12:02 British Summer Time 8 May
Media caption,
Why do we mark VE Day?
VE Day - or Victory in Europe Day - marks the day towards the end of World War Two when fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe came to an end.
UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced the end of the war on the radio at 15:00 BST on Tuesday 8 May 1945.
Germany had surrendered the day before and people celebrated with street parties.
Good afternoonpublished at 12:02 British Summer Time 8 May
Welcome to BBC South's live coverage as people across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Oxfordshire and Berkshire commemorate VE Day 80.