Picnic at Home to Celebrate 75th Anniversary of VE Day
Published: 6 May 2020
A packed programme of music, dance, entertainment and remembrance is planned for Friday as Exeter celebrates the 75th Anniversary of VE Day.
People are being encouraged to have a ‘picnic in their parlour’ to mark 75 years since the Allied victory in Europe during the Second World War.
There were plans to mark the occasion with an event in the city centre but the Coronavirus outbreak changed all this.
Now with people staying home and keeping safe as a result of COVID-19, Exeter City Council is instead inviting everyone to ‘picnic in their parlour’ to celebrate a day that ended the conflict in Europe and ultimately lead to the end of the Second World War.
Those celebrating will be able to ‘tune-in’ to the programme of events, which is being screened on the City Council’s social media platforms from 10am on the day.
Highlights include music from the Big AJ Band, The Liberty Sisters, Mawgan Stott, Devon & Somerset Search and Rescue Pipers’, the Hummingbird Trio, and The Last Post performed by 6 RIFLES Buglers.
There will be a special service led by the Bishop of Plymouth and speeches by the Lord Mayor of Exeter, the Leader of Exeter City Council, the High Sheriff and the Lord Lieutenant of Devon.
There will also be a chance to learn the Shim Sham with the South West Lindy Hoppers and take part in a virtual fashion show with everybody’s VE Day Anniversary outfits.
Exeter’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Peter Holland, said: “We appreciate that everyone is in ‘lockdown’ and can’t celebrate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day in the way that we would like to. But we, like others, feel that even through these scary times, we should mark the occasion together online in our own homes.”
The Council is asking people to post photos and videos of their picnics on Exeter City Council Coronavirus Updates Facebook Page along with clips of raising a glass to the ‘Heroes Toast’ in honour of those who fought for our freedom 75 years ago.
To help everyone get in the mood, the Council is providing links to some fun activities, including colouring-in posters, how to make your own decorations and some fun recipes for trying, including ones from WW2 where rations would have been implemented.
The Council appreciates that some people may not be in the mood for celebration during these worrying times, but hopes residents will be able to look back on this day in years to come with pride, that even through a pandemic the citizens of Exeter still managed to come to together to mark a special day in history.