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One
of the biggest VE Day anniversary celebrations in the UK will take
place at Kemble Airfield near Cirencester on Saturday 7th May
2005. It will feature a concert from the Glenn Miller Orchestra
and a flying display by a wartime Spitfire and Hurricane. There'll
also be displays by living history groups, vintage vehicles. ( for more info).
But
if you can't make it to Kemble Airfield this weekend, then don't
worry! There are plenty of other VE celebrations going on in Gloucestershire.
Here's a round up...
Friday
6th May
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS,
KINGS SQUARE, GLOUCESTER
Start of two days of 1940's style entertainment
in Kings Square will celebrate the 60th anniversary of VE Day. Parts
of Kings Square and Kings Walk shopping centre will be taken back
to 1945 with the help of camouflage netting and an air raid shelter.
Second World War memorabilia from Gloucester's Folk Museum and Royal
British Legion will be on display and Captain Mainwaring of 'Dad's
Army' will be here to make sure everything runs smoothly (some people
may notice his resemblance to Town Crier Alan Myatt!). Free entertainment
starts at 10am on Friday and goes on until 4pm. Dance and sing along
with the GODS (Gloucester Operatic and Dramatic Society) as they
perform all your old time favourite songs, or play traditional skittles
on the alley in the Square. Plenty of uniforms will be on show,
from the Territorial Army and Gloucester Sea Cadets.
Friday
6th May
Hardwicke and District Branch of the Royal
British Legion VE dinner.
At the headquarters in Green Lane, Hardwicke, at 7.30pm for 8pm
on Friday. Guests will be treated to Second World War recipes, and
will be encouraged to wear uniform or 1940s dress. For ticket information
call 01452 728 660.
Saturday
7th May
Kemble Airfield, concert and flying display
Concert
from the Glenn Miller Orchestra and a flying display by a wartime
Spitfire and Hurricane. There'll also be displays by living history
groups, vintage vehicles. .
Saturday
7th May
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS,
KINGS SQUARE, GLOUCESTER
Second day of VE Day celebrations featuring a concert on an open
air stage in Kings Square. The hour-long concert features compere
Robert Leslie (in 'ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ announcer' dress suit); 'War Times' - a fantastic
harmonising duo performing 40's songs like 'Boogie Woogie Bugle
Boy' and 'Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree'; pianist and singer Julie
Higgins brings back memories of Doris Day, Vera Lynn and the Glenn
Miller Band; and there will be all the sounds of wartime presented
by DJ Mike C.
The free concert starts on the hour at 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm.
At 12 noon you will be entertained by a Dad's Army style four-piece
jazz
band, who will be strolling around Kings Walk shopping centre and
the Square throughout the day. And look out for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio Gloucestershire's
Simon Cartwright who'll be reporting live into Faye Hatcher's Saturday
show...
Saturday
7th May
1940s-style fashion show, Regent Arcade,
Cheltenham
In aid of BIBIC - British Institute for Brain Injured
Children. 7:30pm. Tickets £12 seated, £8 standing.
Saturday
7th May
The Royal Gloucestershire/Berkshire/ Wiltshire
Regt - VE anniversary Party .
Dancing singing knees up dressing up and buffet - Saintsbridge club
Painswick Rd Gloucester. Starts 8pm. Open to public.
Sunday
8th May
VE parade and service at Quedgeley War Memorial.
The
parade will be led by a pipe and drum band, which will leave the
Matalan store at noon for a service at 12.30pm, led by county chaplain
the Rev. Thomas Woodhouse and in the presence of the Deputy Lord
Lieutenant, the Mayor of Gloucester, chairman of the parish council
as well as representatives of the emergency services, the cadet
forces and youth groups with the choirs of Beech Green School and
the band of the Salvation Army.
Sunday
8th May
VE DAY PUB MEAL FOR VETERANS
Veterans of the Second World War are being thanked for fighting
for freedom with a free pub meal. Two pubs in Gloucestershire are
offering free roast lunches to war veterans: King Edward VII pub
in Longlevens and Greatfield pub in Up Hatherley, part of the Ember
Inns chain, are inviting veterans holding a Ministry of Defence
veterans badge to eat for free from 12pm to 8pm.
If
you know of an event that isn't featured on this page please get
in touch with us at ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Gloucestershire. Click
here to send an email.
If
you would like to comment on this story get in touch at gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk
or have your say on our
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Here
are some events and celebrations taking place in Gloucestershire this
summer to mark the 60th anniversary of VE Day...
