VE DAY 80 - Alvechurch comes together for a ploughman's lunch, bell-ringing and more

A PLOUGHMAN’S Lunch event was held at St Laurence’Church in Alvechurch last Thursday to mark VE Day 80.

The community came together for the event, sharing food and singing wartime classics in a good old-fashioned morale-boosting singalong.

Two of the people who attended were alive for the original celebrations to toast Victory in Europe. One was eight at the time and the other was 11. They helped bring the day 80 years ago to life on its anniversary.

Celebrating VE Day at The Ark. Picture by Marcus Mingins 2025011MMR2

Rev Gail Rogers, the vicar of St Laurence, Alvechurch, said: “It was a lovely afternoon and very emotional too – a day of mixed emotions.

“On the one hand we were remembering those who had lost their lives and on the other we were celebrating the Victory in Europe anniversary which brought happiness.”

St Laurence Church holds four lunches each year which feature a raffle. Proceeds for that go towards a free community Christmas Day lunch for members of the community who may be struggling or lonely, having their first Christmas alone because of the death of a partner.

Rev Rogers added: “It made sense to hold this one on VE Day 80.”

The bells also rang out at St Laurence Church at 6.30pm to mark the occasion and there was a community event at the cricket club on the night.