South Holland residents encouraged to celebrate ‘significant’ anniversary of VE Day with events planned in Holbeach, Fleet, Tydd St Mary and Gosberton Risegate

Residents have been encouraged to organise street parties and more to mark a special anniversary next month.

In order to commemorate VE Day (Victory in Europe), people across the district have been asked by South Holland District Council to participate in a nationwide celebration on Monday, May 5.

The Great British Food Festival encourages residents to organise their own street parties, barbeques, fry-ups, curry nights or big lunch extravaganzas with neighbours, to honour the sacrifices and triumphs of veterans during World War II.

The 80th anniversary of VE Day will be marked on Thursday, May 8

Here is a list of events taking place across the district which will mark the occasion;

*Gosberton Risegate - St Gilbert & St Hugh Church Hall – Saturday, May 3, at 5pm – buffet, refreshments and entertainment. £12 a ticket.

*Pinchbeck Community Hub - Monday, May 5 from midday onwards. There will be music and games, food and soft drinks.

*Moulton – Lantern parade and lighting of the beacon, Thursday, May 8.

*Holbeach Parish Council - Carters Park, Thursday, May 8, from 5pm to 10pm. Lighting of the Beacon and lamps of peace along with music, cake stall, hot food etc.

*Holbeach - WI Hall, Park Road – Thursday, May 8, 10am to 1pm. Tickets £10, games, music, street party and buffet.

*Crowland Parish Council - Snowden Field, Saturday, May 10, 2pm to 10pm. Enjoy live music, dancing, tea, cakes, kids activities and games.

*Fleet- Lawns and Lakes Caravan and Camping site, Saturday, May 10, 7.30pm. There will be live music, supper included, £10 a ticket.

*Tydd St Mary Playing Field – Thursday, May 8, 3pm to 11pm. Flag raising and ringing of the bells.

The district council will be raising the flag with a group of veterans at 11am outside the towns’ offices on Priory Road in Spalding – members of the public are welcome to attend.

While no events are being held in Spalding to mark VE Day, the district council says it is planning to hold an event later this year to mark VJ Day (Victory Over Japan).

A council spokesman said: “Whether its a street or garden party, we’re inviting everyone to come together for the Great British Food Festival for a day of fun, food, and to honour the veterans who ensured we could live peacefully today.

“VE Day is a significant occasion for our nation and the 80th anniversary gives us a unique opportunity to bring all of our residents together to reflect on and to celebrate our shared history.”

CEO of the Together Coalition, Jon Knight, said: “VE Day is perhaps the most formative single moment in shaping the collective image we have of ourselves as people and as nations.

“That is why we’re encouraging all communities to come together and celebrate our shared history.”

To organise a street party in Lincolnshire that involves road closures, you'll need to apply for permission from Lincolnshire County Council, which you can find here https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/traffic-management/register-event-affecting-highway.

As part of events to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 5, a flypast of current and historic military planes, including the Red Arrows display team, will fly over London.

Rehearsals for this are to take place on Monday, April 28, with Restriction of Flying Regulations to be put in place in skies near Lincoln, Cranwell, Spalding, and parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, and the North Sea, to allow for the large number of aircraft to rehearse.

How will you be celebrating? Let us know in the comments below...