Harwich prepares to celebrate VE Day 80
Thursday 8th May marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe and VE Day 80 (Victory in Europe Day 80) will be celebrated in Harwich with a number of events.
Harwich Town Council has been working on the celebrations for a considerable time and has joined together with other local organisations to put on a varied choice of events throughout the day.
The day will begin at 8AM when the royal proclamation will be read in front of the Guildhall in Church Street by Harwich town crier, Richard Bench. This reading, attended by the Mayor of Harwich, Cllr. Pam Morrison, and the High Steward of Harwich, Sue Daish, will coincide with the raising of the VE Day 80 commemorative flag above the Guildhall.
At 9AM the party will be at the Radar Tower in Barrack Lane for an additional reading of the proclamation, this reading as part of a national competition for the most unusual location at which the proclamation will be read. The Radar Tower, presently managed by the Harwich Society, became operational in 1941 to assist with the defence of the harbour and was the first purpose build radar tower in the world. It still contains the original 15’ scanner.
12:00 National two minutes silence, followed by the ringing of the bells at St Nicholas Church.
Harwich Town Council has also funded a Tea dance, organised and run by Harwich Rotary, at the Park Pavilion beginning at 12.30PM and ending at 3.45PM. This is a free event and anyone wishing to attend may simply turn up on the day.
The celebrations will conclude at 9.30PM when a final tribute will be read by the mayor prior to the lighting of the Harwich beacon by the Harwich Society in Cliff Park.
Framed copies of the royal proclamation have been made available to all of the local schools by Harwich Town Council and the council has purchased bunting and flags which are being made available to town centre businesses to decorate their shop fronts for the occasion.
Harwich Town Council has recently installed illumination equipment to allow the illumination of the Harwich High Lighthouse on special occasions and, subject to the necessary electrical checks being completed in time, it is intended that VE Day 80 will be the first occasion that the Harwich High Lighthouse will be illuminated using this equipment.
The Mayor of Harwich, Cllr. Pam Morrison, says, “This is a very important celebration and we are very grateful to the Harwich Society, the Electric Palace, Harwich Rotary and town centre businesses for working alongside Harwich Town Council to ensure a wide range of events on the day. May 8th 1945, however poignant for some, was a day of celebration and we wish to reflect that on VE Day 80.
Unfortunately, due to equipment failure at the Electric Palace, screenings of ‘Their Finest‘ for VE Day 80 celebrations has been cancelled. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
For further information please contact:
Clerk to the Council, Lucy Ballard, on 01255 507211
