Posted on 6th May
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day this year, Newark and Sherwood District Council has awarded 35 town and parish councils across the district a total of £10,800 to help fund local celebrations.
2025 marks 80 years since Victory in Europe Day, which declared the end of World War II in Europe. To commemorate this historic anniversary and celebrate VE Day, the District Council invited Town and Parish Councils across Newark and Sherwood to apply for funding to hold local celebrations.
The district council has been able to support 35 local councils in organising events such as picnics, flag-raising ceremonies, 1940s best-dressed competitions, open-air musical concerts, and beacon lightings. In addition, some areas are putting on exhibitions showcasing local history around WWII with newspaper cuttings and images from the 1940s.
Coun Neil Ross, Armed Forces Champion at the district council, said: “2025 marks an incredibly important year in our history, with the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
“People up and down the country will be marking this historic moment, commemorating all of the sacrifices that were made during the war and celebrating the day the war was declared over in Germany. We want our residents to be able to join in with the spirit of VE Day and support our local Armed Forces community. It is absolutely amazing to see so many brilliant events taking place across the district. It’s going to be a very special day!”
Coun Paul Taylor, portfolio holder for Public Protection and Community Relations, added: “At the District Council, we wanted to echo the community spirit that is at the heart of VE Day celebrations and make sure our residents were able to take part and enjoy the day. Therefore, we invited town and parish councils to apply for grant funding to go towards any local celebrations they were holding in their area.
“We had such a brilliant response, with so many amazing events planned to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day! From Newark Town Council’s open-air concert and beacon lighting to street parties and picnics – it’s going to be such a fun and joyful time in Newark and Sherwood with something for everyone to enjoy!”
For a full list of VE Day events taking place across the district, go to https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/armed-forces-events
