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Street parties mark VE Day anniversary

BBC Brass band, fronted by a conductor, seated under an awning marked Durham Markets, and in front of stands draped in red material. Bystanders can be seen in the background.BBC
A big band marked the celebrations in Durham Market Place

People across the north-east of England and Cumbria have been joining in the national celebrations for VE Day.

The occasion commemorates Victory in Europe - the end of nearly six years of war on 8 May 1945 - when Nazi German forces surrendered unconditionally to the Allies in World War Two.

Street parties recreating the "spirit of '45" have been held in places including Durham, Hexham, Darlington and Shap.

Events will continue until Thursday - VE Day's 80th anniversary.

Speaking during the festivities in Hopetown, Darlington Borough Council's armed forces champion Rebecca Baker said it was important to remember the "massive sacrifices" people made during World War Two.

"It's a very poignant time right now and it's a very big anniversary, so making sure young people are aware just how important peace is and maintaining that is really valuable," she said.

Head and shoulder view of a woman wearing a navy blazer and striped top. She is standing among the celebrations for VE Day. Bunting can be seen hanging from the lampposts behind her.
Councillor Rebecca Baker said it was important to remember the sacrifices people had made

In Durham there was a community street party and nostalgia event in the Market place.

People dressed in 1940s clothing, there were vintage vehicles, a brass band and singers.

Susan Walker, from Durham Parish Council, said: "I think it's incredibly important to remember.

"Today is all about peace and unity, it's not about glorifying war, but if we forget these wars we forget about all these terrible things that have happened and we will make these mistakes again."

Woman in the costume of a town cryer, with blue jacket and black hat, holding up a scroll. The setting is outdoors, with a long table laid out with food and people sitting around in folding chairs.
In Hexham there was a special emphasis on the local community

In Cumbria, local historian Joseph Ritson has been compiling a roll of honour listing those from Cleator Moor who took part in the war.

He said: "We have to remember the people who died, the people who served, the people on the home front and I think the young people today, the school children, are very keen on learning about all this in their local area.

"Much of what they laid down is what we have today, with the relative peace that we have and many of the industries we have here were, surprisingly enough, founded in that period of the second world war."

Various landmarks will be lit up later, including Lowther Castle in Penrith.

A table laid out with equipment from World War Two, including helmet, backpacks and water bottles. Three men in uniform of the time stand behind it.
People got a taste of 1945 life in Durham Market Place

In Hexham there was a special emphasis on community spirit at an event created by community groups and the first and middle schools as part of the Hexham East: Our Heritage project.

Community development officer Grace Dunne said: "As part of the social history project a lot of people were talking about their memories of street parties in the past, and also about memories of what it was like growing up in this area.

"It's a very close-knit community... there's people who were alive during World War Two and stories associated with that, so we wanted to celebrate both that and the sense of community."

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