Stone Town Council has released details of how Stone will commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day over the early May Bank Holiday.
Events will run for the three days over the early May Bank Holiday, which has been moved to coincide with the VE day anniversary.
Friday 8th May 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, the day on which World War II in Europe ended. To mark the occasion, Stone Town Council will be inviting residents to celebrate with a range of programmed events and activities across the weekend.
Friday 8th May
A Street Party will take place on Stone High Street, from 10:30am, where everyone is invited to bring family and friends to celebrate. Bring along a picnic and enjoy live entertainment from The Sweethearts who will be singing the great hits of the 1940s, there will also be performances from the Florence Brass Band.
Friday also includes a performance of The Last Post at 2:55pm leading into the ‘Nations Toast to the Heroes of World War II’ at 3pm, which is exactly 75 years after Churchill announced the end of World War II in Europe. It will be a chance to raise a glass and say cheers to the heroes of World War II.
As part of the celebrations, The Cry for Peace Around the World will be read out by a Christchurch Academy pupil at St Michaels Church at 6:55pm followed by the ringing of the bells.
Saturday 9th May
Stone High Street will spring into bloom as Flower Power Fair comes to the town. There will be a range of British plants, including some rare and unusual plants for sale and visitors will be entertained by vintage singer Sarah Raymond is scheduled for 12pm.
Councillor Rob Kenney said
“We are thrilled to welcome Flower Power Fair to Stone’s High Street as part of our VE Day weekend celebrations and to see the range of plants and advice from growers that will be on offer.”
St Michael’s Church is also hosting a Heritage Day from 10am – 4pm with an exhibition by Stephen Edwards MBE featuring items from Stone from World War II.
Sunday 10th May
A procession from the Cenotaph at the top of Stone High Street will commence at 10am, travelling down the High Street to St Michael’s Church for a Service of Celebration and Commemoration taking place at 10:45am.
The programme of events also includes a concert to commemorate VE Day and Stone in World War II at St Michael’s Church on Wednesday 6th May at 7.30pm.
Councillor Jill Hood said
“Although fully aware of the threat of the Corona Virus we are adopting the 1939 slogan “Keep calm and carry on”. We are taking advice from the Public Health Authority and realise things can change quickly with the result that we may have to cancel the celebrations last minute. In the meantime we have organised a weekend that really captures the spirit of VE Day with something for the whole family to enjoy. Residents are also invited to dress in 1940s costume to really get into the spirit. We look forward to hopefully celebrating this momentous occasion!”
