VE Anniversary Events Aim To Bring The Community Together

Published on: 22 Mar, 2025
Updated on: 22 Mar, 2025

Photo supplied: Union Flags

Guildford Borough Council will mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day on May 8th with a series of commemorative events.

The council hopes the celebrations will bring the community together in remembrance and reflection to honour those who served and made sacrifices during the Second World War.

For residents wishing to hold street parties, the council is waiving road closure fees from Saturday, May 3rd, to Sunday, May 11th. Organisers still need to apply online for a road closure before 5pm on Sunday, April 6th. The council says it hopes this initiative will encourage communities to come together to mark the occasion in a fitting and inclusive way.

At 9am on May 8th, a special flag-raising ceremony will be held at the Guildhall in Guildford. A VE Day proclamation by the Town Crier will mark the official start of the day’s commemorations. VE80 flags will also be raised at other council sites, including Millmead, Stoke Park and Guildford Castle.

As part of the nationwide celebrations, church bells will ring out across the borough at 6.30pm, in a symbolic act of remembrance and unity.

From 8pm, members of the public are invited to an evening of music, speeches and refreshments in Stoke Park.

At 9.30pm, a beacon will be lit with Flames of Peace, accompanied by a short ceremony and a performance of “I Vow to Thee, My Country”.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Julia McShane, said: “This shared moment of celebration and reflection will remind us of the 80 years of peace that our nation has experienced since the end of World War II in Europe.”

Cllr Julia McShane

Armed Forces Champion Cllr Stephen Hives said: “We encourage people to join together and stand with us in gratitude to those men and women who secured our freedom all those years ago. May we never forget their sacrifice.”

The commemorations will continue beyond VE Day, including the launch of Armed Forces Week on Sunday, June 22nd. A flag-raising ceremony for Armed Forces Day will take place at the Guildhall on Monday, June 23rd.

On Sunday, May 11th, a service will be held at Guildford Cathedral in honour of VE Day. Representatives from the Armed Forces, Emergency Services and key county officials will be in attendance.

To mark the anniversary of VJ Day and the end of the war, a special Evensong service will take place at Guildford Cathedral on Sunday, August 17th.