A Solemn Occasion and a Poignant Reminder

As in previous years our club was invited by the Billericay Town Council to attend the Commemoration of VE-Day, celebrated as usual with the lighting of the Beacon on Sun Corner.  This year was even more poignant than usual as it commemorated the 80th. Anniversary of that event.  

A Beacon of Light

It was a well organised and entertaining event, maybe not as lavish as that evening’s celebration in Horse Guards Parade in front of the King, but a thoroughly enjoyable celebration of the end of WWII in Europe 80 years ago.

At the ceremony on May 8, 2025 the club was represented (in President Patrick’s absence) by President-Elect Stephen, Club Secretary Brian, and Webmaster Peter Greene.  Also present was past club member Brian Hughes (well known to club members and an occasional guest at our club – Editor).

We’ll Meet Again

The commemoration began with live music from High Voltage who kept us all entertained, along with its two singers on the stage just behind them.  This was followed by a parade by standard bearers, RAF and Army cadets and local scouts and guide groups, before Town Council Chairman Cllr Jim Devlin gave a short speech welcoming everyone to the event.

It was then the turn of Lorraine Cater, resplendent in her WWII army uniform, to sing a medley of WWII songs, which would have been so familiar to our countrymen and women of the 1930s and 1940s.  With encouragement from Lorraine, the audience was quick to join in on those songs that they also knew.

Bravery and Sacrifice

The performance over, Youth Town Councillors George Wood and Alex Tomov read out an international tribute and we were then honoured to have the Billericay Citizen of the Year, John Smart, light the beacon in honour of those whose bravery and sacrifice leading up to VE-Day 80 years ago gave us our freedom today.

The Town Council thanked all that took part, including the uniformed organisations, service organisations such as us, all those who helped with the preparation for the event, and all the residents who had come along to this very poignant commemoration.  Some attendees dressed normally, but many with Union Flags and some brave ones really dressed in the Flag.

The evening ended with more songs of the era sung jointly by Lorraine and the two singers from High Voltage. 

The weather was kind to us – no rain and clear skies, but it was still very cold by the end of the event.

Secretary Brian commented: “It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening which reflected well the solemnity of the occasion and in which we were privileged to participate”