Bratton Joins the Nation to Mark VE Day 80
On Thursday, 8th May 2025, Bratton will join communities across the UK in commemorating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. The Bratton Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL), in conjunction with the Parish Council has carefully planned a day of events aligned with the official VE Day 80 national framework and will lead on the event.
VE Day in 1945 brought relief and celebration, but also solemn remembrance for those who never returned. At the same time, the war raged on in the Pacific, with British and Allied forces continuing to fight until Japan’s surrender in August 1945. Our commemorations will reflect both the joy and the sacrifice of this moment in history.
Bratton’s VE Day 80 programme follows a three-part structure: Reflection, Commemoration, and Celebration.
Programme of Events – Thursday, 8th May 2025
Morning: Reflection and Community
The day will begin at 09:00 with the raising of the official VE Day 80 Flag on the flagpole at The Duke, where it will remain flying until Sunday, 11th May.
From 10:00, the Bratton Church Institute will host a special VE Day Coffee Morning, where villagers can gather, enjoy refreshments, and listen to music from the era. The Women’s Institute will provide a specially baked commemorative cake, which will be cut during the event.
Midday: A Solemn Commemoration
At 11:45, we will gather at the War Memorial for a formal act of remembrance, led by the Royal British Legion. This will include:
- The sounding of an Air Raid Siren
- Bratton School pupils and staff, led by a piper, processing to the memorial
- The Town Crier reading the official VE Day 80 Proclamation
- The naming of Bratton’s WW2 fallen, followed by The Last Post and a Two-Minute Silence
- Wreath-laying and prayers led by local clergy
- The Lighting of the Lamp of Peace – a poignant act performed by a pupil from Bratton Primary School, symbolising hope for future generations
- A rendition of “I Vow to Thee, My Country” by the community
- The distribution of VE Day 80 Commemorative Badges
The participation of Bratton Primary School in these events is particularly fitting, ensuring that younger generations understand and appreciate the sacrifices made for their freedom. In these unsettled times, this act of remembrance is a powerful reminder of the importance of peace and unity.
It is also important to reflect on the hardships that continued long after the war ended. Rationing remained in place for years, with some items not becoming freely available again until 1952.
Evening: Celebration and Comradeship
At 18:30, the bells of St James’s Church will ring out in unison with churches across the nation as part of the “Ringing Out for Peace” initiative. This is particularly significant, as church bells were silenced during the war—only rung as warnings of invasion. Their return in peacetime symbolised hope and renewal, a message we will echo once again.
Then, at 19:00, the celebrations will begin at The Duke, where a VE Day Themed Fish & Chips Supper will be held. Fish and chips were the only food not rationed during the war, making them the perfect choice for a wartime-inspired feast. The evening will feature music from the 1940s, recreating the atmosphere of street parties held across Britain in May 1945.
Further details on how to book for the Fish & Chips Supper will be circulated throughout the village in the coming weeks. A reminder will also be included in the April edition of Bratton Parish News.
The Celebrations Continue – Friday, 9th May 2025
On Friday evening, the commemorations will conclude with a special concert and wartime-themed playlets at the Jubilee Hall. This event will raise funds for the Poppy Appeal and the Army Benevolent Fund and will feature performances by The Steeple Belles alongside dramatic re-enactments that capture the spirit of the era. More details can be found elsewhere in this issue.
Be Part of History
Bratton’s VE Day 80 events are open to everyone, and we encourage as many residents as possible to take part. Whether you join us for a quiet moment of remembrance at the War Memorial, sing along at the Coffee Morning, listen to the bells, or celebrate with fish and chips at The Duke, your presence will make this occasion truly special.
More information will follow in the run-up to the event, but for now, please mark your calendars and spread the word—let’s make VE Day 80 a moment for our village to remember.
For further details, visit www.veday80.org.uk.