Commemorate VE Day with a difference

Crawley Borough Council is inviting residents to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day on Friday 8 May with a difference.

As VE day celebrations have been cancelled around the country due to the pandemic, the council will be marking the day with a variety of content on its Facebook page.

Throughout the day, we will share content from the archives of the West Sussex Record Office and Crawley Library, performances by local talent, a live VE day remembrance service, and more. 

Residents are also invited to join a nationwide toast at 3pm to honour our WW2 heroes and at 9pm a Vera Lynn singalong led by the Royal British Legion.

Everyone can get involved from home, including creating your very own Great British Bunting as part of the BBC’s VE Day celebrations. For templates and a step-by-step guide visit www.bbc.co.uk.

Local theatre company, This Is My Theatre, has launched a special VE day photography project, 75 Years of Peace. They are asking people to send a picture of what peace means to them to info@thisismytheatre.com by 5pm on Tuesday 5 May.

Residents can also join in by printing and colouring in posters and sharing images and stories of loved ones who served in WW2 on social media or hosting a party at home with your family. For poster templates, inspiration and ideas, visit ve-vjday75.gov.uk.