The great VE-Day party

It may not have been the spectacular event of rememberance everyone had hoped, but many were able to mark the occasion in some form.

There were virtual celebrations, social distancing street dancing, and bunting and decorations festooning homes, schools and other buildings.

The Visit Boston virtual VE Day celebration event saw The Biz theatre school and Boston Jive dance group entertaining those who tuned in for it.

The Biz arranged for a number of online performances, including an ensemble performance of the White Cliffs of Dover, via Zoom, which was relayed to the Facebook event. And Claire and Neil Seabrook of Boston Jive took to the street to perform some fantastic dancing for their neighbours, which was also broadcast live.

Frampton House Residential Care Home put on a special celebration event for residents and staff for VE Day 75.

Christine Chapman and her friends turned up in their vintage cars, keeping a safe distance, and danced for the residents and staff.

This was followed by fish, chips and peas, afternoon tea and a glass of bubbly at the Frampton care home.

Manager Emma Harvey said: “All the staff were amazing and really got into the spirt, dressing up and working so hard, we are a fantastic team and we are proud of them all.”
Schools such as Wyberton Primary, although not in school on Friday, which was a bank holiday, posted flags and bunting, and the key workers’ children in the school earlier in the week enjoyed a sing-a-long dance and performed We’ll Meet Again

At Asda, staff at the store got into the VE Day spirit, decorating the checkouts with bunting and balloons, and the team dressed in red, white and blue and 1940s style costumes.

Pupils at a Boston school marked the 75th anniversary of VE Day by sharing some very special messages for members of the local community who remembered the events of the day itself.

The children from St George’s School wrote upbeat and informal letters to residents of Hunter’s Creek Care Home, which is next door to the school.

The letters talked about the similarities between lockdown and wartime Britain.

They children also added information about themselves and their family; some shared their own relatives’ memories of the war.

The letters were laminated before being delivered to the nursing home, which has close ties to the school through visits to sing Christmas Carols every year and several of the children have great-grandparents residing there.

Headteacher Sarah Whelan said: “The boys and girls sincerely hope that their letters will bring a smile to the faces of the residents and hopefully they will serve as a reminder that the younger generation are grateful for our freedom today and are thinking of those who are vulnerable in our community.”

The children of the keyworkers attending school also enjoyed a VE Day party at school on Thursday. The children wore red, white and blue, enjoyed a picnic and participated in dancing to wartime tunes. At home, children held their own parties – making bunting, baking cakes and enjoying family time with loved ones; demonstrating that wherever our children are, they still show care and respect for their elders and include them in their thoughts.