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Sudbury Celebrates VE Day 70th anniversary, 8th May

St Peter's Church illuminated by searchlights on the evening of VE Day May 17th 1945. Large crowds had gathered and there was dancing in the streets as local people celebrated the end of the war in Europe. Photo credit: Sudbury Museum Trust Photo Archive
Sudbury Celebrates VE Day 70th anniversary, 8th May

Sudbury Ephemera Archive will be joining the celebrations for commemorating the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day on Friday 8th May from 1.30 - 4pm.  

The Sudbury Museum Trust’s new Wheeler Exhibition Room on Gaol Lane behind the Town Hall will be open for a preview - the official opening will be 16 May. (The Room is named after local historian Anthony Wheeler who died in 2012.) There will be exhibits relating to the Second World War including ephemera from local schools of that time that has been donated to the Sudbury Ephemera Archive.

The WI will be serving teas in the Mayor’s Parlour in the Town Hall during the afternoon. There will be music and a singalong at 2pm. At 3pm there will be an nationwide 2 minute silence and an address by the Mayor. Standard bearers from the Royal British Legion will be in attendance. After the commemoration it is hoped that the bells of St Peter’s will be rung followed by more music and another singalong about 3.30pm.

Finally, in the evening from 9pm onwards will be the lighting of the beacon on The Croft, Sudbury.

Come and join in! Why not wear wartime costume? You will add colour and atmosphere – and it’s not difficult to improvise! Bring your evacuee child! Come as a spiv – a black market bloke like Private Walker on Dad’s Army! Or a nurse or even a female secret agent! If you can come in uniform that would be wonderful! Have your ration books and identity cards ready! And don’t forget a union flag or two! Or just turn up and join in the victory celebrations.

For more details get in touch with the Sudbury Ephemera Archive: contact@sudburyephemera.org; Sue – 07846 885909 or Penny – 07850 302975

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