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A town remembers on 80th anniversary of VE Day

Martin Heath
BBC News, Northamptonshire
Kate Bradbrook
BBC News
Reporting fromIrthlingborough
Kate Bradbrook/BBC A line of people standing in a line by a flagpole, some with raised uniformed organisation standards and three people have wreaths. There are some bystanders watching. The flag bearers are standing on grass. There are trees and hedges behind and a stone house is visible behind the hedges.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
A VE Day 80 flag was raised as part of the commemorations in Irthlingborough

Many faces of those who remember the end of World War Two have now gone, but communities across the UK - including in Northamptonshire - have been marking the 80th anniversary since guns fell silent in Europe.

In Irthlingborough, the stillness of the early morning was broken by the plaintive sound of bagpipes on Parsons Green.

The strident tones of town crier John Farrar were then heard, delivering a VE Day 80 proclamation.

He was pleased that "quite a lot of people have turned up - it shows that people are still remembering and are still interested and it means something to them".

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Stone steps in the centre of a town - there are weeds growing from some steps. A town crier in red and white with a black tricorn hat is sitting on the top step. There are shops and houses in the background, and a stone planter in the foreground.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
The town crier climbed the steps on the cross in the centre of Irthlingborough to deliver a proclamation

Among those watching the commemorations were two people who remembered how Irthlingborough marked the end of hostilities.

Robert and Pamela Ward were aged eight and seven on 8 May 1945.

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Robert Ward with short white hair and Pamela Ward with medium-length white hair smiling at the camera. Robert has a blue jacket while Pamela has a purple sweater and red, white and blue scarf. They are sitting on a black bench in front of a hedge.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Robert and Pamela Ward remembered the celebrations in Irthlingborough in 1945

Mrs Ward had found the war to be a frightening experience. She said: "We lived down Nicholas Road and there were all fields at the back. One day, they must have been doing an exercise and I thought the Germans had come.

"I was absolutely terrified. I remember my Mum drawing all the curtains so I needn't look."

Kate Bradbrook/BBC A line of people of various ages standing on a pavement in front of a railing on which there is a light blue banner. There are trees behind the railing. Houses are visible to the right. There is a red sign banning lorries from proceeding.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
Several people turned out early in the morning to take part in commemorations

When the coming of the Germans was no longer a threat and peace came, streets across Irthlingborough were filled with happy faces.

Mr Ward remembered "the older people putting trestles on the old green in Abington Road and they had newspaper cloths on the tables.

"They all brought out jelly, fish paste sandwiches and we had a big party. As kids, we really loved it."

Kate Bradbrook/BBC Tracey Walton with long straight blonde hair smiling at the camera and wearing a white mayoral chain and a blue pendant. She is standing on a red brick path with hedges and shrubs to her right.Kate Bradbrook/BBC
The mayor, Tracey Walton, said young people needed to carry the messages of VE Day forward

The unbridled joy of 1945 has given way to more reflective commemorations in 2025, but later on Thursday Irthlingborough residents are being treated to a fish and chip supper while listening to a singer and a band.

Lanterns of peace are also due to be lit and the Last Post will be sounded from the church tower, as a reminder of the sacrifices of the war and of people across the world still striving for peace.

The mayor, Tracey Walton, said: "People have been saying that this one [anniversary] is probably going to be the most significant event for VE Day because we are losing our veterans now, so to be able to pass that on to our youngsters and make sure they carry that forward is really so important. It's part of who we are."

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