VE Day Anniversary

Party like it’s 1945 on VE Day anniversary

The Bromsgrove branch of the Royal British Legion is hosting a VE Day Street Party on May 10th to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day and townspeople of all ages are invited to join in the fun.

Bromsgrove High Street and Worcester Road will be closed from 12noon to 7pm and filled with tables and chairs for people to bring picnics and party like It’s 1945.

Two stages near The Strand and on Worcester Road will host bands and singers performing Glenn Miller classics and popular songs from the decade.

There will be a VIP area for veterans and older people who were around in 1945 and picnics will be provided for them by the Royal British Legion. Their memories of VE Day will be read out by young people, enabling them to learn directly from the people who lived through World War Two. Scouts, Guides and Cadets who will carry out the interviews will be encouraged to ‘adopt’ and sit with older people on the day which hopefully will forge future links between the generations.

The Norton Collection Museum, which will be open during the day, will be bringing a 1940s motorbike and wicker sidecar for people to view.

Military vehicles and re-enactors will be parked in front of The Golden Cross and an LED cinema screen will show war films and Pathe News reels. This area will be covered with green carpet and people are invited to bring deckchairs and picnics and watch the films. The Golden Cross will host a popcorn cart for cinema goers and Bromsgrove Army Cadets will have an ice cream van and give away free ice creams to children. There will also be food concessions stands on the High Street and Worcester Road.

Worcester Road nightclub 57 Monkeys will be showing popular 1940s comedies including Laurel & Hardy.

Shops and businesses will be encouraged to decorate their frontages, play music, put photos of VE Day in their windows and join in the entertainment.

Make-up artists and hair stylists will help to re-create the 1940s look and people will be encouraged to wear clothes from the era and decorate picnic tables. Tables and chairs will be placed along the High Street and Worcester Road for the public to use. Tables on the High Street can be reserved for £20 to include six chairs.

Parking in town centre car parks will be free all day.