75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe and Victory over Japan

Friday 8 May 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe. Colchester, like other towns and cities across the UK, would have held a Civic service to mark this historic day. However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic and Government guidance, public commemorations have been cancelled nationwide.

We therefore invite you, instead, to explore our online pages commemorating VE Day, along with links to some external websites that tell the story of that historic occasion and the end of the war in Europe.

We also invite Colchester residents, young and old, to take part in the celebrations at home. The dedicated VE Day 75 website lays out the timetable for the commemorative events that were to take place nationally and includes many online resources. 

A moment for remembrance and reflection will take place at 11am with a national 2-minute silence. Later, the Queen will address the nation in a pre-recorded message at 9pm, the same hour as her father, King George VI, made his radio address to the public in 1945. You can visit the central government website to find more information about this, as well as see the Government's updated programme of events.

At 3pm, you can participate in the Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of the Second World War, and join The Royal British Legion at 9pm for a UK-wide doorstep rendition of Dame Vera Lynn’s “We’ll Meet Again”.

For other ways to take part, please see our external links for recipes, bunting, posters and a creative challenge for children set by historian and presenter, Dan Snow.

VE Day 75 in your home
Alternative celebration ideas
Colchester and Ipswich Museums – activities for children (available from 8 May 2020)
Wartime recipes

The Imperial War Museum has released a very special VE Day soundscape. Please visit www.iwm.org.uk/history/voices-of-war/ve-day on VE Day to listen.