This year we commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe on 8 May 1945.
There will be celebrations marking the 80th Victory in Europe anniversary with events in the UK on Thursday, 8 May 2025, as well as with community events around the UK.
Visit the official VE Day 80 website
VE Day event in Loughborough
Charnwood will mark 80 years since VE Day with a special beacon lighting event at Queen’s Park in Loughborough.
The event will take place on Thursday, 8 May 2025, with information stalls and activities taking place from 8.30pm, and the lighting of the beacon around 9.30pm.
Information stalls include the Army Reserve, Loughborough Sea Cadets, Loughborough Wellbeing Centre, Royal British Legion and the Loughborough Library Local Studies Group.
The Granby Street gate to the park will remain open throughout the event to allow people to exit following the beacon lighting.
Flag-raising ceremony
A small flag-raising ceremony is also being held at the offices of Charnwood Borough Council on Southfields Road from 10am on Thursday, 8 May 2025.
More details will be published here as they are confirmed.
Lighting the Beacon competition
A competition has been held to find a local resident to light the beacon in Queen’s Park in Loughborough, to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Charnwood Borough Council searched for a resident to join the Mayor of Charnwood Cllr Dr Julie Bradshaw MBE in lighting the beacon at an event on Thursday, 8 May 2025 – exactly 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe on 8 May 1945.
The deadline to apply to light the beacon was Friday, 28 March 2025.
Sileby resident Sheila Breed was the winner of the competition.
Mrs Breed came to Charnwood as an evacuee from Sheffield on 1 September 1939 as the Second World War began.
Mrs Breed was only five years old at the time and was taken in by a family in Cossington. She has remained in Charnwood ever since, splitting her time between Rothley and Sileby, where Sheila and her husband Terry have now lived for 43 years.
Events taking place in Charnwood
VE Day events taking place throughout the borough will be published on the webpage below as they are confirmed.
Last updated: Mon 14th April, 2025 @ 09:16