East Suffolk Council
Stars join the party at VE80 event in Felixstowe
Felixstowe will be joining the nationwide day of reflection for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, with a series of celebratory events.
East Suffolk Council has organised an event on Saturday 10 May to commemorate VE80, which will be hosted on Wireless Green at Martello Tower P, the historic building that sits along the town’s seafront.
The event is supported by all the Felixstowe ward councillors, five of whom have given funding totalling £4,000 from their Enabling Communities Budgets.
In a joint comment, the councillors said:
“As ward councillors for Felixstowe, we are pleased to support such an important community event. VE80 is an historic milestone in our country’s history, and to be part of a nationwide day of reflection is particularly special. We hope that those who attend enjoy the celebrations and would like to thank everyone who makes this event possible, including those volunteering their time.”
The public are invited to bring a wartime picnic, dress up 1940s style and put on their dancing shoes to join in. The event is open from 12:00 noon and the programme of entertainment will be launched by Felixstowe Mayor David Rowe at 13:00, with the afternoon finishing at 17:00.
Local dancers, musicians and young performers will be joined by three of the cast members from the much-loved BBC comedy ‘Allo! Allo!’; Vicki Michelle MBE, Kim Hartman and John D Collins.
The SeaYou Cafe on the Green is offering a special wartime-themed picnic box. These must be ordered beforehand and will be available for collection on the day.
Sponsors of the event, The Original Cottage Company, have funded dance and drama workshops for the children of Langer Primary School, who will be performing at the event alongside members of Level 2 Youth Group, the Two Sisters Arts Centre, Suzie Lowe Performing Arts and the Felixstowe Chamber Orchestra.
The Martello Tower P was originally one of eight Martello Towers in Felixstowe and was part of the chain of defences built over two hundred years ago to repel invasion during the late Napoleonic wars. It had a significant role in coastal defences during both World Wars, making it the perfect backdrop for such celebrations.
The Tower was also previously used by the Coastguard as a lookout station and now home of the Volunteer coastguard, the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI).
Other events are being held in Felixstowe to commemorate VE80, including a day of reflection on Thursday 8 May organised by Felixstowe Town Council, which will mark exactly 80 years since WW2 ended in Europe. Events include flag raising, a war memorial, church bell ringing and a torch parade.
Find out more about VE80 at https://ve80.com/