City lights beacon for 80th anniversary of VE Day

A beacon will be lit in Cambridge later this week as part of a country-wide commemoration of the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

The ceremony will take place on Thursday on Castle Mound to mark 80 years since Victory in Europe (VE) Day, when World War Two came to an end in Europe.

Cambridgeshire County Council said: "Just like in 1945, VE Day will see the nation come together to honour and pay tribute to the millions of people across the UK and Commonwealth who served."

The free Cambridge event will include music and a speech from Christopher Walkinshaw, deputy lieutenant for Cambridgeshire, and the beacon will be lit at 21:30 BST.

The ceremony has been organised by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Armed Forces Covenant Partnership, in collaboration with Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridge City Council.

Tommy Kelly, from the Armed Forces Covenant Partnership said: "VE Day is a historic event for the country and communities across Cambridgeshire.

"Lighting the beacon is an opportunity for us all to come together to pause, reflect, and remember the generation that changed the course of history in Europe to secure the freedoms we enjoy today.

"The ceremony is free to attend and no booking is required. We hope as many people can join where possible to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day."

There are more details about both VE Day and VJ Day (Victory over Japan) on the county council website.

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