VE Day Anniversary celebration?

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]