VE Day - Great British Bunting

On Friday 8 May 2020 Britain will be commemorating the 75th anniversary of VE Day when the guns fell silent at the end of war in Europe.

The Coronavirus emergency and consequent Government guidance means that the majority of the VE Day 75 community celebrations due to take place on the bank holiday weekend of 8th – 10th May have been cancelled.

However, you could take part in celebrations safely from home by joining your BBC Local Radio station initiative in making your own VE Day Great British Bunting  to hang in your windows.

Bunting can be decorated with pictures of soldiers who fought on the frontline or those who worked on the Homefront, it could be your grandad in the Navy or your great grandmother who worked for the RAF. Or you could draw a poppy to commemorate the fallen, a dove to celebrate lasting peace or a rainbow to symbolise hope. All the guidance and inspiration you need to make your bunting from whatever you have at home can be found at bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

We will be asking people to share the pictures of their efforts on social media with the hashtags #GreatBritishBunting and #VEDay75, so that all the effort people put in can be shared far and wide. We’ll also be encouraging people to share their family stories of VE Day on BBC local radio stations with a particular emphasis on local pride.

Age UK already have the support of Bruno Peak OBE, the nation’s VE Day 75 Pageantmaster (https://www.veday75.org/) and it would be great if we were able to share this idea with our members and followers in case it’s something they would like to be part of. Many people of all ages who are stuck at home right now would enjoy spending some time getting creative in the name of such celebrations.

Let's use this unique opportunity to pay tribute to the many millions at home and abroad that gave so much to ensure we all enjoy and share the freedoms we have today.