STOURPORT Town Council has revealed further details regarding the area’s VE-Day 80 celebrations.
‘A shared moment of celebration’ to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe – the end of the Second World War in our continent – will take place on May 8.
VE Day 80 is not only a tribute to those who fought for freedom but also a powerful reminder of the resilience and unity that have defined our country ever since.
Stourport’s celebrations and commemorations will begin at 9am with the Town Crier reading a proclamation for peace at the War Memorial Gardens on Vale Road. As the proclamation is read out the Mayor of Stourport will raise the “Flag of Peace” – both will be streamed live on the Stourport Town Council Facebook page.
From 3.30pm, Eat Stret Repeat will bring a food court to War Memorial Park on Lickhill Road.
Plenty of vendors
Among the vendors will be The Beefy Boys, BMK Stourport, Aurorbella’s Bakes, Hobsons Brewery, Stuffed any way you like, Flats Doughnuts and Quads N Castles.
Among the entertainment will be DJ Stretch who will be joined in the lead up to the beacon lighting ceremony by The Swingettes and more. There will also be a number of military vehicles on display.
From 4pm to 4.45pm, people can join local historian and expert Geoff Shaw, in Stourport Community Centre, for a free talk on Stourport’s contribution to VE-Day and its role in the Second World War.
And from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, the bell ringers of the Parish Church of St Bartholomew (Areley Kings) will be joining in with ‘Together We Chime—Let the Nation’s Bells Ring Loud’. Part of this will also be broadcast by Stourport Town Council for those gathered in War Memorial Park.
The Beacon Lighting Ceremony will take place from 9.15pm to 9.30pm and it will start with a welcome by Rev Carey Saleh. It will culminate with the Stourport Carnival Queen lighting the ‘Lamp of Peace’ at 9.30pm.
Shop Windows Display Competition
The Mayor of Stourport, Coun John Thomas, has invited all town Centre shops and businesses to join a best-dressed window display competition. It will be themed on “A Shared Moment of Celebration” to reflect VE DAY 80 and Stourport-on-Severn.
Judging of the windows will be done via a residents’ vote on the Facebook group ‘We Love Stourport Past and Present’.
