Three days of events in London and across the UK marking historic anniversary of end of the Second World War in Europe Trafalgar Square, scene of jubilant celebrations marking the end of the Second World War in Europe on 8 May 1945, will play a central part in a host of national events commemorating the 70th anniversary of VE Day, which include a Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, a concert in Horse Guards Parade, a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, a parade of Service personnel and veterans and a flypast. Decorated with ensigns for each of the Armed Forces and bunting, the iconic square will play host to one of the world's premier military bands, the Band of the Grenadier Guards, with a special performance on Sunday 10 May. The famous regiment - which regularly performs at major state occasions, including the Trooping the Colour and has a proud history of service in times of war and peace - will perform music from the era to the present day on the steps into the square opposite Nelson's Column. In 1945, Trafalgar Square was floodlit to mark VE Day and during the 70th anniversary commemorations, it will be lit up once again with V-shaped lights, along with the Houses of Parliament. It will be possible to see the lights on Friday from 9.30pm to midnight and on Saturday and Sunday from 8.30pm to midnight. The square will also host a new photographic exhibition, featuring historic images taken on the day that hundreds of thousands of people came out onto the streets of central London to celebrate the end of the Second World War in Europe. Photographs include the Prime Minister Winston Churchill with the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace; ecstatic crowds in Piccadilly Circus; St Paul's Cathedral illuminated at night; and British Servicemen and their girlfriends in the Trafalgar Square fountains. Everyone is welcome to visit the exhibition, which is free to attend. The same images will also be on show at City Hall from 8 May to 5 June. On VE Day itself, a beacon will be lit at the Tower of London, one of the dozens being lit across the country on Friday evening. People walking along the south side of the river near Tower Bridge will be able to see the beacon as it is lit at 9:32pm. Throughout the weekend (8-10 May), Imperial War Museum London will be offering a festive afternoon tea in its Tea Room run by renowned caterers Peyton and Byrne. There will be themed cakes available and decorations evoking the spirit of the street parties and gatherings that took place across the country 70 years ago. On Sunday 10 May, to help round off the weekend of events for VE Day 70, there will be seating for the general public in stands overlooking Horse Guards Parade, where they will be able to see the morning changing of The Queen's Life Guard by members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the parade of members of the Armed Forces and veterans as they finish their journey from Whitehall. 3,000 seats will be available on a first come first served basis on the morning, via Horse Guards Road. However, if you are unable to get a seat in the stands, you will be able to view all the colour and spectacle of the parade in the streets in Whitehall and Parliament Square. The performance by the Band of the Grenadier Guards in Trafalgar Square will coincide with the end of the parade by veterans and current service personnel from Westminster Abbey to Horse Guards Parade. Deckchairs will be available in the square for visitors to relax and enjoy the band, who will play two sets from 1pm. The final VE Day 70 illuminations will take place in the square that evening. Key events and activities already announced for VE Day 70 weekend: Friday 8 May - VE Day • At 3pm a Service of Remembrance will be held at the Cenotaph, coinciding with a national two-minute silence, to be televised on BBC One. A beacon will be lit at the Tower of London as part of a simultaneous nationwide event at 9:32pm. The three locations that were floodlit on VE Day 70 years ago will be lit up with special V-shaped lights, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Saturday 9 May • At 11am across the UK, churches and cathedrals will ring their bells as a nationwide mark of celebration. • In the evening, thousands of people will attend a Royal British Legion concert produced by Live Nation and the BBC. The star-studded 1940s themed "Party to Remember" will be held at Horse Guards Parade Ground. Broadcast on BBC One, Hosted by Chris Evans, this star-studded concert includeS performances influenced by the era from actor Adrian Lester, comedian and presenter Alexander Armstrong, Britain's favourite tenor Alfie Boe, actor Bernard Cribbins, boyband Blue, Britain's Got Talent winners dance troupe Diversity, musical theatre’s leading lady Elaine Paige, hotly tipped jazz vocalist Gregory Porter, Dads Army’s Ian Lavender, R&B singer Jamelia, stage, screen and TV star Jane Horrocks, UK’s biggest mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins, pop starlet Pixie Lott, one of the best voices to come out of the X Factor singer Rebecca Ferguson, legendary rock band Status Quo and four couples from top entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing (http://bit.ly/1G0fZCv). Sunday 10 May • Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, attended by Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, members of The Royal Family, and up to 1,000 veterans and their families. Representatives of Allied Nations and Commonwealth countries who fought alongside Britain in the conflict will also attend. • Afterwards, a parade of over 2,000 Service personnel, veterans and their guests will march from Westminster Abbey to Horse Guards Parade, passing the balcony in Whitehall where Winston Churchill appeared before the crowds on VE Day after his famous speech to mark Victory in Europe. • The world-famous Red Arrows will make a flypast over Central London, following a flypast of historic aircraft from the Royal Air Force – including the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft of the famous Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The service and parade will be broadcast on BBC One. • Veterans who have taken part will be invited to a reception in St James's Park hosted by The Royal British Legion. There will also be public entertainment in the park over the afternoon. Notes to editors 1. Public transport will be the best way to get to the events, although stations in the surrounding area (Embankment, Victoria, St James's Park, Westminster and Charing Cross) are likely to be busier than usual. People travelling to the VE Day 70th anniversary events, or around the areas of the events, are encouraged to check before they travel at tfl.gov.uk/weekend-travel and nationalrail.co.uk/may. 2. Further details of events in London and those planned across the UK, including celebrations in Aberdeen, Alderney, County Fermanagh, East Grinstead, Llandaff, Lancaster, Paignton and Winshall, Staffordshire can be found on the VE Day 70 website www.gov.uk/veday70. 3. A photograph of a special V-Shaped beacon being lit in preparation at Dover Castle this week is currently available through the Press Association. Please contact 020 7963 7000. 4. The Royal British Legion was awarded £6 million of LIBOR funding by HM Treasury to support the work of commemorations over the next five years. They are using part of these funds for VE Day 70. 5. VE Day images are available from IWM (Imperial War Museums). Please contact Bryony Phillips, Corporate Communications Manager, 020 7416 5316, [email protected]. A selection of images is available to press free of charge, on the condition that IWM is credited. 6. Photographs of the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight can be found on the Defence Images website, www.defenceimagery.mod.uk For additional information, please contact: • City Hall/Trafalgar Square events: Ben McKnight: 020 7983 4071 / [email protected] • Commemorative beacons: Bruno Peek - 07737 262 913] • Veteran accreditation: Royal British Legion - Becky Warren, 07824 301 072 • Local authority involvement and street parties: DCLG – Patrick Coyne, 030 3444 1143 • Cathedral bells: Department of Culture Media and Sport Press Office - 020 7211 2210 or 07699 751 153 (out of hours) • For the latest news, follow MoD on Twitter at @DefenceHQ or search #VEDay70. MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Information for the media is available from Ben McKnight [email protected], or 020 7983 4071. PUBLIC/NON-MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Call the Public Liaison Unit at the Greater London Authority on 020 7983 4100 DUTY PRESS OFFICER: For out-of-hours media enquiries, please call 020 7983 4000
Created on
06 May 2015