THERE is exactly one month to go until the country kicks off celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
A new survey reveals 53 per cent of people will join in — including holding street parties on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5.
Arthur Edwards / The SunAhead of VE Day’s 80th anniversary, Ross Kemp and Dame Kelly Holmes will host a tea party aboard a Royal Navy battleship in Portsmouth Harbour[/caption]
AlamyA VE Day street party on May 8, 1945[/caption]
And yesterday TV star Ross Kemp and former soldier and Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes hosted a tea party on board a Royal Navy battleship in Portsmouth harbour.
The port city is where millions of our servicemen and women returned to Britain after six years of conflict at the end of World War Two.
While VE Day is on May 8, the May Bank Holiday three days earlier will be the focus for community celebrations around the country.
The Together Coalition wants millions of people young and old to join in by holding a street party, a picnic in the park, a BBQ or by joining a local community event.
Their research has found almost 28million of us plan to take part in VE Day 80 celebrations.
And 2.1million people are already organising street parties and picnics to honour the dwindling number of veterans from the greatest generation who fought against Hitler’s forces.
EastEnders actor Ross joined school kids and sailors for a street party held on the flight deck of Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan, moored off Portsmouth.
Ross said: “The British public loves a knees-up — and there’s no better reason to celebrate than the anniversary of VE Day.
“I’ll be raising a glass to the veterans who defended us, the values that prevailed and the freedom we still have as a result of their victory.
“Half of the country is joining in — my message to the other half is: it is not too late to get involved.
“Most of the veterans who served in World War Two are already over 100. So, this could be last time we will have an opportunity to say thank you to them.
“To let them know that we care about their sacrifice, that we honour them and that we wouldn’t have the liberties we enjoy today without them.
“The bank holiday is also about bringing communities together — schools, families, friends, community groups, football teams, rugby clubs.
“Come together on May 5 for barbecues, curry nights, picnics, street parties and celebrate the freedoms that we often take for granted, but that came at a price.”
Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly said: “Moments like this become part of our shared history.
“They remind us of what really matters and the sacrifices that so many have made to protect our democracy and way of life.
“There is no better way to honour them than to celebrate what they fought for together.”
It is not too late to start planning your get-together.
When World War Two ended in 1945, London staged huge impromptu celebrations that went on for days.
And throughout the UK, streets that had survived Nazi bombings during the war pooled their rations to hold thousands of parties.
‘Get involved’
Brendan Cox, of the Together Coalition, said it is not too late to apply to have your street closed for a party to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe.
He said: “Most councils are trying to make it as easy as possible this time, so lots of them are waiving their fees and lots of them are speeding up the process.
“But even if you can’t block off your street, there’s still lots of ways that people can get involved.
“You can do something much smaller — it can be in a local park, it can be in your gardens, it can just be on the front lawn. It can be with your mate.
“No matter where you live, if you’re in a big leafy street somewhere you can close off, great. If you’re in a tower block somewhere, you can have a block party.
“Whatever it is, we want the whole country to get involved.”
l If you are in London on the afternoon of May 5, a large procession of serving forces and veterans will march with military bands to Buckingham Palace where there will be a military flypast.
V.E.MAIL: CAT, 9, WRITES TO A HERO
ABOARD HMS Duncan, Dame Kelly read a moving letter from Royal Marine John Eskdale, now 100, who served all over the globe in World War Two.
In late 1943, he was on board HMS Charybdis when it was struck by German torpedoes.
He writes: “I spent a harrowing five hours in freezing water on a Carley float before I was rescued. Of the 533 crew on board the vessel, I was one of only 107 people who were saved, and the last survivor to be picked up.”
John is one of five World War Two survivors taking part in VE Mail, a project where school children can write to a veteran.
He signs off his letter telling the youngsters: “I pray you never have to witness a war. My message to you is to do the best you can because you don’t know what is around the corner.”
Catalina Robson, nine, a pupil at St John’s Cathedral Catholic Primary School in Portsmouth, has already written to John at his home in Lydney, Gloucs. She said: “John’s letter made me think he is a very brave and courageous man.”
In her heartfelt letter she wrote: “Dear John, I am very grateful for your service because you saved future generations like mine from conflict. I’m very lucky to have read your letter.”
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