Help to make town's virtual VE-Day celebration special

* Have you any pictures of VE-Day celebrations in Llangollen?

Your town needs you – or at least your memories and pictures of a landmark event in our nation’s history.

That’s the message from the steering group working on arrangements for a “stay at home” celebration of the 75^th anniversary of VE-Day on May 8^th.

The town council-led group organises the annual Remembrance Sunday event but earlier this year began to plan a memorable local celebration of the day in May 1945 when the Second World War in Europe finally ended after six long years.

This was to have featured a parade led by the local Royal British Legion, a wreath-laying ceremony at the war memorial and a wartime-themed tea dance in the Town Hall.

All was looking good until the coronavirus crisis struck and the group, headed by the town’s deputy mayor Cllr Issy Richards, had to cancel the planned celebration.

But since then its members have been looking at a new way of making sure the anniversary is marked in style without any risk of infection.

Now they’ve come up with it – a stay at home VE-Day celebration – and need the Llangollen public’s help to make it special.

Cllr Richards explained: “At this stage we can’t really reveal exactly what form it’s going to take but what I can say is that it’s a very exciting plan, so watch this space for further details.

“We do know there will be an online photographic display, so we are asking local people to let us borrow any pictures they might have of celebrations for VE-Day in 1945 or, indeed, any depicting our town during the Second World War, or of anyone who served the country in any way, including in the armed services, organisations like the Land Army or in munitions factories.

“We’re also looking to record any memories people have of that magical end-of-war period.

“All I’d ask is that you let us know if you can help as soon as possible as we don’t have too much time to prepare.”

She added: “The 75th anniversary of VE-Day is an opportunity to give thanks, to remember the enormous effort and sacrifice made at home and abroad, and to joyously celebrate as people did on that day.”

* If you have any old pictures of the VE-Day period, or would like to share your memories of that special time, please contact llanblogger by emailing: llanblogger@gmail.com