What fresh hell is this? National VE day

[wetpants]

This has popped up on my local FB page, villagers are all up for it too. Apparently it’s a nationwide incentive??

The thing is, most front gardens are tiny or non existent here. There’s no way you could be 2m away from your next door. Also these villagers who are up for this are the same people who few weeks ago cried about a lone bloke sitting on a crass verge, well away from any pedestrians. How is this any different?

I’m not British (have lived here a long time though) so maybe I’m just not getting the fervent VE day misty eyeness

And don’t get me started on 9pm nationwide singalong WHO comes up with these things???

I wonder in 1968 - did people celebrate 50 years after WW1?

Or in 1993 - 75 yrs after the end of WW1?

I wonder when people stop celebrating? Or even remembering?

@chomalunga I suspect there wasn't a lot of celebration going on as there was a flu pandemic that year, it killed between one and four million people around the world in two years, originating in China in the summer and spreading around the planet. I doubt there was much enthusiasm for social gatherings in November '68

You have your dates wrong

Oh ignore me

It is just not going to work. Either tiny gardens so too close to each other or big ones so are you going to shout? And you could only at most
Talk to your ndns. Not really a party and not much fun.

@chomalungma , never in my 50+ years have I known a VE Day bank holiday and national celebration. Lots of DD Day commemorations over the years. Never a VE Day one. It was a cheap attempt to create jingoistic nonsense because of Brexit. If anything, VE Day is the day we should be thanking other countries for bailing us out.

I thought it was a spoof when I saw it. What tosh, wars should be remembered and reflected on- — but not celebrated . I got one certainly am not joining in gvt sponsored churchillian spirit propaganda

We didn't celebrate 50 years after WW1 as far as I remember.
I imagine that we will stop sometime within the next 20 - 30 years when all those who were alive and old enough to remember have passed away. As it stands now, even those who were technically old enough might well not have seen service. A recently deceased old friend of 92 did his basic training and then the war finished just as he was expecting to be posted overseas.

never in my 50+ years have I known a VE Day bank holiday and national celebration
25 years ago - the 50th
there was a bank holiday, fly past, parades etc etc etc
Pretty impressive I watched it from the pub

There was a nasty flu bug going round in 1968. I caught it.

We did change the day of the Bank Holiday for the 50 year commemoration, but I don't remember much more being done.

there was a bank holiday, fly past, parades etc etc etc

Schedule from that day

genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1995-05-08I

Including

11.30
: VE50 Buckingham Palace: The Day Peace Broke Out
Today's coverage of the VE Day celebrations starts at Buckingham Palace where Dame Vera Lynn, Sir Harry Secombe and Cliff Richard lead the crowds in a nostalgic sing-song. HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother will accompany members of the royal family onto the balcony to watch the celebrations. With John Tusa, Tom Fleming, Jill Dando.

I don't remember the sing song!!

Now you mention it, I vaguely remember the fly past. The memorial flight got trotted out, which was then down to two spitfires and one hurricane. I think the Red Arrows did something and they flew over our house a bit later, on their way back to their base, which was somewhere in Gloucestershire at the time.

Never in my 50+ years have I known a VE Day bank holiday and national celebration

Bank holiday May 8 1995.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48565417

I’m going to make some bunting (more to do with the fact I want some more)

And I will be getting merry in the garden, if the sun shines. Nothing to do with VE days just a normal Friday for us now.

Do it, don’t do it I don’t care. Some of the comments on this thread are really bizarre.

Luckily I have no neighbours so don’t have to partake in anything!

I will do a minutes silence out of respect for all who lost their lives during the wars. If one is actually happening.

Nope. No recollection of that. I was probably out of the country.

OP I'd never heard of this proposed 'celebration' till your thread. Why the hell did you start it. It's not very important. Just ignore.

Isn't this just another PR exercise to distract us from the tens of thousands of people we allowed to die as part of our experiment in herd immunity? Like the near death experience and the new baby? Call me cynical...

No because the started planning for VE day long before the current pandemic. ( and the date was "decides on" 75 years ago...)

I do think it's important to remember what happened.
The sacrifices.

And with parts of Europe, as well as other parts of the world, seeming to turn on minority groups and use them for political gain as targets for hate or 'political reeducation' as well as how people and countries in many parts of the world see people fleeing war zones and persecution - and aren't too bothered by what they see - I think we need to reflect on the lessons learnt.

Its not fresh and not hell its remembering victory for Europe against some fascist regime - without this 'fresh hell' we may not be here - lots of people made huge sacrifice for us to have the freedom to say thing s like 'what fresh hell is this?'
just some bunting, posters and balloons to remember that.........

derxa
VE day events started being planned last August
road closure notices were drawn up, venues booked, performers booked.
Its been known about for a long time 75 years I believe
Its just had to change to do with COVID

do you not remember these news stories ?
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/10/printing-firms-demand-compensation-government-may-bank-holiday/

@Abbccc - oh yes, back when Brexit was the focus du jour. Either way it provides a distraction from the self serving shambles that is the government's policy. And I don't remember bunting out and garden parties every year, particularly not organised by the government. 🤔

never in my 50+ years have I known a VE Day bank holiday and national celebration

Well you must have been asleep 25 years ago. I was responsible for the civic stuff in Cambridge and there was loads of it.

Here you go.

www.paimages.co.uk/collections/2655/

The Daily Mail have saved it for veterans

I do remember the fuss 25 years ago, I didn't see it as I went abroad on a holiday. It is the only year I do remember a big fuss for VE day, definitely don't remember anything as a kid in the 50s/60s.

Funny when you think of it, all these people celebrating those brave fighters 75 years ago, some of them now in care homes full of Covid as govt happy to have untested people moved into the homes to spread it. Priorities are a bit skewed, look after the veterans still living it will be more appropriate than a tea party.