Sleaford area to mark VE Day

As part of a national initiative, people are being invited to hold ‘Stay at Home Street Parties’ for VE Day on Friday, May 8, with households encouraged to decorate their homes with red, white and blue, bunting and enjoy a family picnic in the garden, drive or balcony.

This will happen at around 12.30pm in Sleaford. Villages will be following suit.

At Wilsford there are sheets available from the post office to colour in your own bunting, while stories and memories of the era are being shared on noticeboards. Meanwhile villagers in Heydour are to join in a sing-along to wartime favourites with vocalists Caroline and Emma while they do their daily exercise between 2.30pm and 3.30pm around the village hall. Some are ordering and collecting takeaway cream teas at the same time.

There is to be a national toast at 3pm and Rural Dean and vicar of Sleaford, Rev Philip Johnson hopes to record a short service of thanksgiving on the church’s YouTube channel.

Sleaford Town Crier John Griffiths also plans to record a proclamation marking the anniversary on his Facebook page.

Royal British Legion members in the area will be honouring the occasion by joining the nation in standing outside their homes to observe a two minute silence at 11am. This will include Sleaford branch standard-bearer Brian Harvey who will be in blazer bearing the flag. He will be out again at 9pm with standard on parade for a UK-wide singalong to Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again.

Stephen Tapley, headteacher at William Alvey School said: “We are staying open for the VE Day Bank Holiday. We are planning a ‘socially distanced’ street party in the front car park, if it’s sunny, with flags and bunting, dressed 1945 style.”

Just along the street, Ashdene care home is to display banners and bunting before residents enjoy a concert via Facebook with songs from the period performed by the Blighty Belles singers at 1pm. Staff will be dressing up in 1940s gear.

RAF College Cranwell will be doing a video broadcast via Facebook at 3pm, as well as other posts of street parties and another focussing on the bells within College Hall that commemorate the 477 Flight Cadets who lost their lives during the war.

Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre is posting images relating to RAF Cranwell and VE Day from its archives and a soundscape of authentic sounds from VE Day..

Mrs Smith’s Cottage at Navenby volunteers have organised a Twitter Tea Dance, getting people to send in and share short videos of them doing a 1940s style dance.

Navigation House will be posting information on how the Land Girls helped the war effort

Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre had planned to have an evening event with singer on May 9, but that has been postponed until September 27.

○ Send us your VE Day celebration pictures to [email protected] or via Facebook @thesleafordstandard.