Will you be celebrating? Should we even be celebrating? Certainly, it will all feel very strange. We are aware that not everyone thinks we should continue to commemorate wartime. But the sacrifices of a previous generation for our freedom must be remembered. And while we are in lockdown, we can look back and at least cheer ourselves with the notion that things could be a whole lot worse.

Here is an outline of some key events of the day (timings subject to change):

11am Two-minute silence, led by Prince Charles.

11am-7pm The Little Village Maypole on Slingsby Village Green.

11.15am Royal British Legion’s VE Day Livestream featuring stories of those who served.

2.45/3pm Churchill’s famous victory speech The BBC programme will show Churchill announcing the end of the war in Europe from 10 Downing Street on 8 May 1945. At 3pm people will be encouraged to raise a glass in a National Toast, saying: “To those who gave so much, we thank you.”

6pm Katherine Jenkins, in a virtual duet with Dame Vera Lynn will sing “We’ll meet again”. The pre-recorded concert will be streamed on YouTube at 6pm on Friday.

9pm The Queen’s address to the nation

9.10pm Is this our chance to sing “We’ll meet again” and mean it?

[Above images: Getty Images and the Guardian]

To mark this occasion we have delved into the village website’s archive and dusted off some fascinating footage for you. Most of it was presented to herald the “Wartime in Slingsby” exhibition of 2014. The links further below take you to Pathe news reels, some grim, many entertaining, and an audio recording of local memories.

Although Victory in Europe was publicly declared on 8 May 1945, it was actually 75 years ago today, 7 May, that the German surrender was received. To understand the joy and elation of VE Day, you need to understand the horror and hardship that went before. So here we look back.

Four people from the parish lost their lives during the war. Slingsby received over 120 evacuees. Soldiers were billeted in many of the farm buildings and used the village hall as their mess room. A few current residents remember these times, as you will hear.

Easter on the Home Front

British Pathé News

George Formby in France

Food Rationing Newsreel

The Evacuees

Slingsby during the War

Two more warm days before the weather changes for the weekend. Time for a walk? Here’s one Carolyn and I did a couple of weeks ago. This is actually Walk No.6 from the 11 local walks which Geoff recently refreshed for locked down Slingsby folk needing ideas for their daily exercise. Find them all here: Slingsby Local Walks

This, one of the longer walks, took us about 3 hours, including the extension to Appleton-le-Street. The woods are beautiful in Spring before the trees come into full leaf. Appleton church looked a picture. The photos below show our progress through the walk.

If you are taking your permitted daily exercise on Friday, don’t forget to take in Slingsby’s Little Maypole.

Award winning apple juice delivered to your door. The Yorkshire Wolds Apple Juice Co. (based just outside Norton) used to supply the hospitality industry. Now they offer contactless delivery to homes across Ryedale.

They will deliver a minimum order of 6 bottles for £20 ,or 9 for £30 and a case of 12 is £40. Bear in mind that Slingsby falls outside their free delivery zone, so they will ask for a delivery charge of £3.

If you are looking for a bit of variety in your drinks orders, check out their website: https://yorkshirewoldsapplejuice.co.uk/ or phone Jane on 07779 161780.