VE Day 80 commemoration plans announced for Moray and Banffshire

The Lord Lieutenant of Moray and Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire have announced the plans underway to commemorate the significant anniversary in Moray and are asking locals to get involved. A special invitation is being extended to those over 80 who are the last of a generation profoundly impacted by WWII.

The day will start at 10am with the raising of the VE Day flag at Moray Council HQ, to which all are invited to observe.  There will also be a service at the Land Girls Memorial at Clochan at 11am.

At 12pm pipers across the region are invited to join pipers playing “Celebratum” and “The Battle’s O’er” on the four peaks of the UK and Balmoral Castle. From 2pm a service will take place at St Giles Church in Elgin with all members of the community invited to attend. The congregation will move out to the Plainstones around 2.30pm where the Lord Lieutenant will read the speech given by Winston Churchill marking the end of the war before local pipers signal the end of the ceremony. All are welcome to attend all aspects of the service and street parties and community events are encouraged to bring everyone together. Communities hosting events or commemorations are encouraged to share these with the Lieutenancy by emailing lieutenancy@moray.gov.uk.

At 6.30pm communities are encouraged to gather for the ringing of church bells throughout Moray and Banffshire with pipers once again playing. Deputy Lieutenants will read Churchill’s address at significant landmarks within each council ward, to be confirmed. At 9.30pm beacons and the lamp light of peace will be lit around the region, notably in Findhorn, Lossiemouth East Beach and on Ben Rinnes, while the VE Day tribute or Churchill’s speech is recited.

Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Major-General Seymour Monro CBE, is encouraging people in Moray to get involved with the commemorations: “The 8^th of May 1945 was a day of celebration with the streets brimming with people singing and dancing. Bittersweet for many who had lost loved ones in the war or were waiting for their safe return. Now we have the opportunity to thank, remember and commemorate all those involved with bringing about the end of the war and peace to our shores. I hope local people in Moray take the opportunity to join us for the service at St Giles Church and events around the county on the day.”

Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire, Mr Andrew Simpson, added: “I’m pleased to join forces with the Lord Lieutenant of Moray to commemorate the role of our county in VE Day. A further event is taking place with The Gordon Highlanders in Huntly as well as at the Royal British Legion in Keith on Friday 9 May. There is plenty going on across Moray and Banffshire for people to join in with and to mark the occasion in their own way too. It’s important that we continue to mark these occasions and show gratitude to those who gave so much for our country.”

More information about national events and resources is available here: https://ve-vjday80.gov.uk/.