On 8th May, many countries in the Western world will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day—Victory in Europe. The surrender came into force at 23:01 that day in 1945.
However, despite the conflict being over in Europe, the war continued to wage in the Far East and Pacific, with many troops redeployed to fight in the East instead of coming home. The end of the war in Japan came a few months later, in August, after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
On Thursday, 8th May, at 12:19, a procession of about 1,000 UK service personnel from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force will start at Parliament Square, finishing at the Queen Victoria Memorial. This will be followed by a flypast featuring the Red Arrows and 23 current and historic aircraft over The Mall and Buckingham Palace at 13:45.
Ukrainian troops from war-torn Ukraine will also be taking part in the UK's military procession. Major Pavlo, an officer of the Ukrainian marching contingent, said: 'The participation of Ukrainian service personnel in the VE Day parade in London symbolises our strength, courage and resilience. It is a recognition that Ukraine and its heroes stand at the forefront of the fight for freedom and peace in the world.
There will also be a church service to mark VE Day. A special service of thanksgiving is planned for Thursday, 8th May, at Westminster Abbey, with the King and Queen in attendance.
It will be a service of thankfulness and commemoration for the thousands of men and women who fought and gave their lives fighting for the freedom we experience today— children and civilians who got caught up in the theatre of war. Nor must we forget the many horses, the dogs that carried messages, and the carrier pigeons who performed selfless acts of immense courage and bravery.
A moment to reflect and give thanks for the peace that so many sacrificed their lives for during the Second World War.
In addition, churches across the country will also be holding services to mark the occasion, and many will ring their bells at 6:30 pm on 8th May.
On the day the war officially ended in 1945, the country erupted in a euphoric celebration. Spontaneous street parties broke out across the land, with dancing and singing that carried on through the night and into the following morning. Even Princess Elizabeth—our late Queen Elizabeth II—and Princess Margaret slipped out to join the jubilant crowds gathered along The Mall outside Buckingham Palace.
It marked the end of years of hardship. Every evening, blackout curtains were drawn tight, and the rules were so strict that if even the smallest chink of light escaped, a knock at the door would follow with a stern reminder to take more care. Food and basic goods were scarce. In sharp contrast to today's throwaway culture, people saved every scrap of string and wore their shoes until they nearly fell apart. Rationing was imposed on almost everything—food, clothing, fabrics—with some households receiving no more than one egg a week.
So when peace was finally declared, the sense of relief and joy was overwhelming—and most symbolic of all, the lights came on again.
Yet despite the war’s end, rationing lingered for nearly a decade. Restrictions continued on various items, and it wasn’t until midnight on 4th July 1954 that rationing in the UK officially ended. Meat was the final item to be de-rationed, bringing to a close 14 years of careful counting and constrained living.
The Tower of London is hosting a display of 30,000 ceramic red poppies in recognition of all those who fell during World War II. The poppy has long represented peace and sacrifice.
The Tower has had a long, varied and fascinating history - from serving as a royal residence to being the first London zoo - but it is most commonly known as a prison where many beheadings took place. Initially parts of the Tower of London (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London) - including The White Tower — were built in 1087, but the building as a whole was begun in late 1066.
We are told that “…the Tower of London will be illuminated as part of a special remembrance display called 'Poppy Fields at the Tower'. This sound and light installation, running from 8th to 16th November 2024, will feature moving images reflecting on World War One and Two. The display will include falling poppy petals, silhouettes of soldiers, and images from the Tower's archives.”
Turning to other matters, a circle in oilseed rape was found at Wimborne Minster, near Poole, Dorset. Reported 11th April 2025.
Photo: Crop Circle Access/Geometry, Circles and Landart
Whilst many people will have been enjoying the sun over recent days and weeks, the farmers have said the dry weather is affecting their crops. The Berkshire Post reported:
“The lack of recent rainfall has meant some crops are not sprouting in drier ground, and there is no forecasted rain in some areas for several days. For Colin Rayner, from Stubbings Farm in Maidenhead, spring barley planted weeks ago has 'hardly germinated', which has left him hoping for rain at the weekend.
An expert from the University of Reading said the seasonal weather patterns on which farmers rely 'have clearly changed a lot' over recent years.
'We had a very wet winter,' Mr Rayner told BBC Radio Berkshire. 'I think we had 90 days of rain virtually from November to the end of February. At the end of February, it decided to stop raining.”
Let us hope that the situation changes and provides the farmers with sufficient rain to grow their crops without any more worry.
I am a great optimist, and the rains will come.