VE Day 75: Flypasts, festivities and reflection as region salutes WW2 heroes
The Black Country and Staffordshire has saluted Second World War heroes on the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
Today marks the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day - the day the allied forces formally accepted Nazi Germany's surrender and the Second World War ended on May 8, 1945.
And the region paused for two minutes at 11am to remember all those who sacrificed their lives to defeat Nazi Germany and ensure our freedom.
The major celebrations originally planned were cancelled due to the Covid-19 lockdown but the momentous event was still celebrated across the region.
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Many households were adorned with Union Jacks and bunting to mark the occasion and socially-distanced street parties were held.
Families living in The Warings in Wombourne all gathered together on their own front lawns to enjoy the celebration.
Houses on the cul-de-sac were decorated in red, white and blue, with many of the decorations created by children living the street.
The street party was a collaborative effort, with several people living in the road working together to get supplies and organise activities for the day through an online group chat.
Elle-Louise Lane, who has lived on the street for five years, was part of the organising committee and the 26-year-old nurse said it was part of a continued effort to keep community spirits up.
She said: “We just keep everybody’s spirits high as we’re all getting through this together.
“We’ve got such a variety of people on the street, such as teachers, a couple out in the frontline, shop workers and a lot of elderly people who are lonely as well.
“It’s really nice for them to come out and although we’re on our own drives, we can still talk to one another and have fun together.”
The street party was a 40s-themed party, with traditional music and games for children to play on the street such as hopscotch, as well as entertainment from local children and an ice-cream van.
People from each house were able to sit at the front and celebrate together with barbecues and other food and drink, while continuing to observe social distancing.
Meanwhile Hednesford woman Lyn Dickson joined thousands of pipers around the world playing Battle’s O’er.
Ms Dickson played at Hednesford War Memorial in Rugeley Road which has also been surrounded with knitted decorations.
She said: "I just wanted to do something as we should have had a big event which was cancelled, so I thought I'd do my own thing.
"It's a traditional tune that's been played for hundreds of years to announce the battle is over."
Mother and daughter Helen and Kaisha James, from Wednesbury, are part of a 1940s musical trio called The Trixibelles.
Even though they could not be joined by their fellow member and friend Lisa – due to the lockdown – the pair lifted spirits on their street by singing in 1940s style.
Helen, 47, said people had been “loving” the music from her and daughter Kaisha, 19.
“We were meant to be out gigging at Great Barr Golf Club but instead we were on our front lawn as everything was cancelled,” said Helen.
“The street is all dressed up and the neighbours have been loving the music.
“I’ve raised £300 for the NHS too, which I didn’t expect.
“We’ve also done bingo, a raffle, and a kids disco at the end of the day.
“People were having picnics too and everyone has been dressing up. It was so lovely.”
Elsewhere on VE Day, the RAF staged flypasts across the country, with the Red Arrows soaring through the sky above Buckingham Palace and the London Eye and Typhoon fighter jets flying over Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
A national sing-a-long to Dame Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again was also planned.
In a special message broadcast on the Royal British Legion’s livestream on Friday morning, Dame Vera gave her thanks to the wartime generation.
Flags were flying from landmarks in the Black Country such as from the top of Dudley Castle.
And food parcels for vulnerable residents in Wolverhampton were given special “VE Day 75” stickers from the city council’s food hub.
Dozens of flags are also lining the food hub's distribution centre at Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton.
