VE DAY
80th ANNIVERSARY
A SHARED MOMENT OF CELEBRATION
8 MAY 2025
Introduction
Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster
Bruno Peek CVO OBEOPR – Pageantmaster, provides insights into the arrangements for the upcoming VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations, and how local councils and others within their community can take part in this 'shared moment of celebration' on 8th May 2025.
VE Day 80 – 8th May 2025 – A Shared Moment of Celebration
Following on from the enormous success of D-Day 80 - 6th June 2024, in which we all commemorated the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, through the lighting of over one thousand beacons and five hundred lamp lights of peace throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK overseas territories that night, we are now focusing all our efforts on the celebration of the 80th Anniversary of VE Day which marked the end of the war in Europe and WWII as a whole on 8th May 1945, in a similar way.
On Thursday 8th May 2025 we are encouraging the lighting of Beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace at 9.30pm, the raising of a unique VE Day flag at 9am and, where possible, holding parties of celebration throughout the day in the streets, gardens at home, churches, villages, town halls, pubs, clubs, hotels and all manner of locations throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories.
9am
9:30pm
All Day
9:30pm
Lamplight of Peace
9:30pm
9:30pm
9:30pm
9:30pm
8am
On the 8th May 2025:
Additional Ways to
Celebrate
VE Day 80 Street and Home Garden Parties (throughout the day)
Even though Thursday 8th May 2025 is not a public holiday, we encourage those with country parks and streets that can be closed, along with those that have gardens to hold street and garden parties decked in flags and bunting, dressing up infancy dress or uniform, along with those communities that have town, village and community halls etc, to organise VE Day 80 parties within them, decorating them in a similar fun way.
We also encourage care homes and children’s homes, hospitals, schools, pubs, hotels and restaurants etc, to undertake similar events throughout the day in celebration of this important Anniversary. This would be a great, and simple way for schools to take part, especially at lunch-time.
The Four Peaks - Mount Snowdon, Scafell Pike, Slieve Donard and Ben Nevis
Four Pipers will be playing ‘Celebratum’ from the top of the Four Peaks at 12 noon on 8th May which has been especially written for this historic occasion by by Stuart Liddell MBE. Piper Stuart Liddell MBE will be playing this tune at Inveraray Castle Balmoral, and Piper Lady Jane Macrae will also be undertaking it at 12 noon at Balmoral Castle that afternoon.
Mount Snowdon
Slieve Donard
Scafell Pike
Ben Nevis
Top Tips
Invitations:
Extend an invitation to your HM Lord Lieutenant, Deputy Lord Lieutenant, local dignitary or VE Day veteran to light your beacon or lamp, or more importantly, a young person, as they are the future, and we need to encourage as many as we can to assist the world in promoting peace.
TV, Radio and Newsprint:
Make contact with your local, regional TV stations, radio and newsprint, informing them of your involvement in VE Day 80. We will be providing you with an overall press release outlining the overall plans for celebrating these important anniversary celebrations, enabling you to afix it to your plans.
Please remember to include your own contact details, enabling them to contact you direct.
Social Media:
Use the power of social media channels to promote your involvement in VE Day 80, and post your photographs of your beacon lighting and any other activities you will be taking part in during VE Day 80. #VEDay80
Advertising Opportunities for Your Support for VE Day 80
For all advertising enquiries supporting VE Day 80 please click the link below.
