Hopetown Darlington on track to lead VE Day 80 celebrations

Preparations are underway to celebrate the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, which marked the end of the Second World War.

Hopetown Darlington will host a VE Day event on Bank Holiday Monday 5 May, with a special day of connection, commemoration and remembrance – just as communities did 80 years ago.

Local community groups, including Fitlab Gold, Growing Older Living in Darlington (GOLD), Age UK, Mind, Veterans at Age UK, residents of sheltered accommodation, Dementia Voice Group, Dementia Friendly Darlington and youth groups such as Cadets and Scouts, will be invited to a Street Party in the Goods Yard where they will enjoy a day of entertainment and complimentary light refreshments of tea/coffee and scones.

Visitors are welcome to Hopetown Darlington to join in the celebrations and atmosphere, 10am-5pm, which will include street music and dance with some traditional war time classics such as White Cliffs of Dover. Performers will include The Daisies, Kellen Dance/FitLab and the HC Vocal and Performance Academy.

There will also be a chance to handle historical objects in The Stores and there will be reminiscing activities with the S&DR community partnership team.

The Deputy Mayor Cllr Sonia Kane will lead a flag raising ceremony in front of the town hall on Thursday 8 May, at 9.30am, and the town clock, town hall, library and Hippodrome will be lit up in red, white and blue from Monday to Thursday 5-8 May.

Darlington Libraries will also be joining the celebrations with special book displays and a a small display highlighting how Darlington celebrated the end of the war will be on show in the Centre for Local Studies.

Darlington Markets will also be hosting a Food Festival over the weekend of 3-5 May and local schools have been sent a letter from Stephanie Peacock, minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, highlighting how they can also get involved in the celebrations.

Cllr Rebecca Baker, Darlington Borough Council’s Armed Forces Champion, said: "Communities across Darlington, and the whole of the UK, came together 80 years ago to celebrate the end of a war that had a huge impact on those who experienced it and for generations after.

“This anniversary will be a time for us to come together once again to hear the stories of those who were there, remember those who gave their lives and thank all those who played their part at home and abroad to secure peace.”

This year marks the 80th anniversaries of VE Day on 8 May and VJ Day on 15 August and there will be local and national events and activities. More information can be found on the government website at www.ve-vjday80.gov.uk