Cheltenham to mark 81st anniversary of VE Day

Please come and join us on Friday 8 May at the War Memorial.

The Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor David Willingham, and the Cheltenham Branch of Royal British Legion (RBL), invite you to attend the commemorative parade and service on Friday 8 May for the 81st Anniversary of Victory in Europe - VE Day - which marks the allied forces victory and the unconditional surrender of the Axis Powers on the 8 May 1945.

We will gather at 10:45am latest - for 10:55am start - at the War Memorial, Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 9SA.

VE Day was not only a celebration but a moment of great sadness and reflection as millions of people had lost their lives or loved ones. Whilst VE Day marked the end of the war in Europe, many thousands of armed forces personnel were engaged in bitter fighting in the Far East for a further three months, until August that year. We must pay tribute to the very few surviving members of the Second World War generation and will always remember those soldiers, sailors, airmen - and civilian men, women, and children - who died at home and abroad.

The service will be led by Rev Stefan Davies. The mayor and the RBL Chairman will lay poppy wreaths during the service and local standards will be paraded to pay tribute to those who gave their service and their lives.

Wing Commander Roy Roberts, chair of RBL Cheltenham branch, said: “As custodians of Remembrance, the local Royal British Legion branch is honoured once again to join with the mayor and the town's citizens, veterans and our local serving military, to reflect on and remember the sacrifices of those who have gone before us and to think of those who are keeping us safe in today's challenging times. It’s clearly still important to very many of us, young and old, both nationally and locally.

"Lest We Forget."

Cheltenham to mark 81st anniversary of VE Day

Please come and join us on Friday 8 May at the War Memorial.

Recent News