VE Day 80th Anniversary commemoration event – 8 May 2025
Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council arranged a series of events to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day on 8 May culminating in an open air concert on Broadstairs seafront.
Earlier in the year, local school children were encouraged to produce art work and poetry to express their understanding of the historic event, and this was bound in presentation folders by Council staff. First to appreciate the children’s efforts were staff and residents at Maurice House. Town Mayor, Cllr Mike Garner accompanied town council staff and representatives of the school to the local care home exclusively for the Armed Forces Community where residents were impressed and charmed by the children’s empathy and understanding of the significance of the anniversary. Residents shared memories of their war-time experiences and the impression war had left on them.
Late on the evening of 7 May a VE day 80th Anniversary flag was flown at Pierremont Hall in readiness to mark the significance of the day itself and set the mood for a sombre day of refection. On the evening of 8th May crowds gathered at Broadstairs Bandstand last evening to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day. They were treated to a fabulous programme of popular war-time music performed by the Thanet Concert Band, culminating in rousing renditions of Land of Hope and Glory and Rule Britannia. Union flags were handed out to the children, and the bound books of artwork and poetry were on show for all to enjoy. During the band’s interval the crowds were entertained by the children of Bromstone Primary School who sang songs and read poems to mark the occasion.
The Town then followed the protocol followed by towns and villages across the country and stood to reflect on the lives lost and the millions who served across the world during the Second World War. Cllr Garner says “It was wonderful to see so many people enjoying the music and reflecting on the significance of the day. We were pleased to welcome so many young people and our thanks go to all the schools who participated, to the Ramsgate and Broadstairs Sea Cadets and the 14th Broadstairs Scout Group who read the Tribute.”
The evening was rounded off with a beacon lighting on Viking Bay which was made all the more poignant by the projection of the Union Flag onto Bleak House.
