Rutland to Commemorate VE Day 80th Anniversary with Special Events

Rutland to Commemorate VE Day 80th Anniversary with Special Events

VE Day Oakham 2020

Rutland is preparing to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day with a series of commemorative events on Thursday, May 8th, and a special celebration in June. 

The local community is invited to participate in remembering this significant historical milestone.

The official Rutland commemorations on Thursday, May 8th will begin in Oakham at 10.00 am with a Flag Raising Ceremony at Oakham Castle. Attendees are kindly requested to arrive by 9.50 am to witness the National Proclamation, hear speeches, and see the raising of a special VE Day 80th flag.

Later that evening, at 9.30 pm, a Beacon Lighting Ceremony will take place in Cutts Close Park, Oakham. This event will be sequenced with beacons being lit in numerous locations across the country, creating a nationwide symbol of remembrance. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the entertainment provided by Morris Dancers and other performers, with food also available.

The commemorations on May 8th will also extend to Uppingham, with the following schedule:

9.00 am: VE Day 80 Proclamation in the Market Place

8.45 pm: Gather on Tod's Piece

9.00 pm: Live Music

9.30 pm: Beacon Lighting

Adding to the commemoration, residents are invited to mark their diaries for Sunday, June 29th for a special event titled 'Rutland Remembers: Our 80th Anniversary Celebration for VE & VJ Day'. This larger celebration will take place in Oakham and will feature a Parade at 10 am, followed by a Church Service at 10.30 am. From midday onwards, a Party in the Park will offer live period music, dancers, food stalls, a beer tent, a children's fun fair, and a highly anticipated RAF Flypast. 

Further details regarding this event will be announced in due course.

These events offer a valuable opportunity for the Rutland community to come together, remember the sacrifices made, and celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

Editor's Note:

At a recent council meeting, I was tasked with assisting in the organisation of VE Day activities for our town. I quickly discovered a significant obstacle: Oakham Town Council is reportedly not permitted to hold its own town flag-raising ceremony. This restriction, according to my understanding, stems from Rutland County Council, who have suggested that such an event could potentially confuse residents.

Despite this directive, at our last meeting, the Town Council reached a consensus that a flag will be raised in Cutts Close on VE Day itself, albeit without any formal ceremony.

It is pertinent to note that members of Oakham Town Council have highlighted instances of similar intervention from the County Council when attempting to organise events in the past.

Personally, I find this intervention by the County Council to be very disappointing. It is difficult to imagine other Town or Parish Councils tolerating such interference from their respective county authorities.

I have been informed there is currently a issue currently a  communication and organisation issue for the planned beacon lighting here in Oakham. I hope that is resolved before the big day.

Cllr Martin Brookes