Here's how VE Day was celebrated in west Dorset and how you can mark the anniversary

A national bank holiday will be held and despite the lockdown people will be able to join in celebrations from home.

At midnight on May 8, 1945, the guns finally fell silent in Europe after five long years of war.

VE Day celebrates the formal acceptance by the Allies of the Second World War of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of armed forces.

Street parties were held across Dorset with everyone coming together to join in the celebrations.

An edition of the Bridport News of Friday, May 11, 1945, described VE Day as ‘a victory greater than all of the victories of history, greater than all the triumphs of Alexander and Julius Caesar, of Saladin and Genghis Khan, of Napoleon and Wellington.’

Bridport was in a ‘triumphant mood’ this paper reported, with the town bedecked with flags and bunting. The weather was ‘brilliantly fine’ and crowds thronged the streets to see decorations ‘on a lavish scale’.

Late at night many residents waited outside Bridport Town Hall which was festooned with flags. People were hoping to see the building flood-lit, but because of the five mile coastal blackout which had not been removed, they were disappointed.

A religious service was held in the playing fields. The service concluded with the national anthem and community singing.

Celebrations continued the next day with a pianist providing music in South Street to round off the celebrations and people ‘singing and dancing and giving vent to their feelings’.

Peace celebrations were laid on for children as well. Youngsters enjoyed a tea with ice-cream, a free film show and ‘slabs of really good cake proudly brought home to the family tea table.’

Elsewhere, a victory tea was held in Beaminster, a procession in Burton Bradstock and a VE Day Social in the schoolroom in Mosterton.

In Burton Bradstock, villagers enjoyed a fancy-dress parade outside the Three Horseshoes pub, dancing and a thanksgiving service.

Elizabeth Buckler Gale recounts the day and told the Bridport News: “We had the day off school and in the morning I recall my parents joined in the ‘four handed reel’ dancing outside the school in the road, accompanied by Billy Williams on a concertina.

“We first went to the church for a short service of thanksgiving and then paraded through the village and ended up at the WI Hall for tea.

“I was 10-years-old and my mother had got me up as Britannia. I had very long hair and an off-white frock made of parachute material. My father had made a shield and trident and we borrowed fire chief Sammy Gluning’s brass helmet.”

VE Day celebrations in Lyme Regis are highlighted in Martin Roundell Greene’s ‘Electric Lyme’ book.

He writes: “The council’s plan for VE Day was for the official victory celebrations to take place in the evening. People would be asked to decorate the town with flags and bunting, the church bells would ring out and at 6.30pm, the mayor and corporation would attend a religious service in the parish church. Then there would be a torchlight procession from Coram Court down to the Cobb, ‘headed by Mr Williams’ van’. As well as an electricians’ and a wireless and cycle business in Coombe Street, Gordon Williams had a van with a loudspeaker on top. Through this, gramophone records of the latest popular music could be played. With most of the Lyme Regis Silver Band still away in uniform, Mr Williams’ van was the only mobile music on offer.

“The van would broadcast music for a floral dance which would follow behind the torchlight procession.

“A bonfire on the Cobb would light up the night and afterwards there would be a public dance on the Marine Parade. And further to mark the occasion, the streetlights on VE night would remain on until midnight, with extra lights placed along the Marine Parade. There was also a proposal for fairy lights in the Langmoor Gardens above until town clerk Atterbury reminded councillors that military regulation still in force stated, ‘no illuminations were allowed in this area’.

“For the children, the council proposed a Victory Tea.”

The team at Bridport Heritage Forum had planned a weekend of events, replicating what was reported in the Bridport News, such as films at the Electric Palace and street parties, but celebrations across the country have been cancelled, scaled back or postponed.

Town clerk Will Austin said: “Although national guidance on social distancing means that no public events can take place to mark this important moment in our national history, the town council has been working with Rev Pete Stone on a video that will appear on our website at bridport-tc.gov.uk and our social media channels from 11am on Friday, including some reflections and an address by town mayor Cllr Barry Irvine. The union flag will fly proudly at the town hall, and we’ve put up bunting across the town centre. Everyone should follow the ‘stay at home guidance’, but we hope the town will celebrate and remember in their own way at home. Visit ve-vjday75.gov.uk for ideas.”

The Rev Pete Stone 

Rev Pete Stone of Bridport Team Ministry has produced a series of videos commemorating the 75th anniversary of VE Day, and these are published at www.bridport-tc.gov.uk/ve75. People can use them as part of their own commemorative events at home.

Also on the same page is a clip of Bridport town crier John Collingwood 'crying for peace', also part of the celebration of peace and the tribute to those who lost their lives in Second World War.

If you are marking the day in any way, putting up bunting or having a tea party, send your photos to news@bridportnews.co.uk