How Hartlepool is set to pay its tribute on VE Day anniversary

Although national and local events have had to be scaled back significantly due to the coronavirus emergency, Hartlepool Borough Council says there are still lots of ways people can mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Eurpoe.

At 11am people are encouraged to stand at their front doors and join in a nationwide two-minute silence.

Hartlepool Armed Forces Liaison Group is asking standard bearers to present their standards in their gardens and play the Last Post and Reveille.

On the afternoon, a recording of the Mayor of Hartlepool Councillor Brenda Loynes and Hartlepool Armed Forces Liaison Group representatives making a civic toast will be broadcast on the council’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hartlepoolcouncil

At 4pm the page will broadcast a performance of wartime songs from the Town Hall Theatre by 1940s singer Vicky Sandison and will also be streamed to a number of care homes.

Following a TV broadcast of the Queen at 9pm, people are encouraged to open their doors or windows and join in a national singalong of We’ll Meet Again.

Council leader Councillor Shane Moore said: “Although we are not able to mark this important anniversary as fully as we would all have wished, we can still come together in spirit as a town and as a nation to give thanks for the remarkable wartime generation and remember the sacrifices they made.

“They are truly an inspiration to us all, especially in the present dark times.”

Hartlepool Support Hub in partnership with Poolie Time Exchange is putting together VE Day celebration packs to go out with deliveries.

Armed Forces Champion Councillor Lee Cartwright added: “We pay tribute to all those who served and gave their lives in the cause of freedom, whether in the Armed Forces or on the home front, remembering also that for some servicemen and women the Second World War continued in the east until Victory over Japan in August 1945.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you