‘Let us remember and thank them’: How Bungay will celebrate VE day in lockdown

Despite the current lockdown, Bungay residents are planning to come together to honour the sacrifice of all of those who helped Britain in the war effort.

Bungay’s town council had initially planned a three day long celebration which included street parties, however plans have had to shift and be “severely scaled down” as a result of the coronavirus lockdown.

The council are now prompting residents to join in with a number of ‘at home’ activities to mark 75 years of peace.

Town mayor Sue Collins said: “Whilst we remember those who made sacrifices 75 years ago and celebrate such a hard won peace, we should not forget that the shared experience of war heralded in a renewed national resolve that pulled people together.

“In such a spirit of fellowship old divisions were forgotten, creating a climate that gave rise to the NHS. It is this very same National Health Service and all those working on the front line who are fighting for us today, so let us also remember and thank them for they too are placing themselves in harm’s way in the hope of saving others.”

A leaflet has already been circulated to every household in Bungay, urging people to stand outside of their homes and make a joint toast to the end of the war.

A two minutes silence will be observed at 11am, which the British Legion has called for to “honour the huge sacrifice of the Second World War generation and also to take time to reflect upon the devastation that Covid-19 has brought”.

At 3.30pm Sue Collins will be joined by the town reeve to make a presentation on the war’s impact via video link on the ‘What’s on in Bungay’ Facebook group.

Unfortunately plans for a WW2 Hurricane fighter plane to fly over Bungay at 11.20am have been cancelled.

Later in the evening, at 9pm, a UK-wide rendition of Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ will be played by the BBC - which the council urges the town to join in and “sing with gusto” with doorsteps and windows open wide.