Kentish Express Ashford & District
Celebrate VE Day - from a safe distance
A GP has downplayed fears about holding VE Day parties in front gardens – as long as residents adhere to social distancing measures.
With the country in lockdown and dozens of events across the county cancelled, people have been urged to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War at home.
Scores of families are expected to hold celebratory picnics in their front gardens in the absence of traditional street parties this Friday.
But doctor Jeremy Carter is warning those who do not have the space in front of their homes to stay indoors or keep to their backyards.
The partner at Park Surgery, Herne Bay, explained: “For those fortunate enough to have one, front garden parties are fine for members of the same household to enjoy.
“If they don’t have the ability to safely do this, they should not risk a social gathering that breaks the guidance, and risks spreading coronavirus.
“There are plenty of celebrations and commemorations to enjoy inside, with opportunities to come out for collective celebrations on the doorstep.”
In Sheppey, singer Alex Jamieson will be performing songs from her Buckthorne Road driveway between 2pm and 4pm.
Meanwhile in Sittingbourne, 15 families in Wren’s Road, Borden, will be decorating their homes with flags and bunting to mark the event.
And Navy standard bearer Richard Joy will lower the flag in the front garden of his Ramsgate home as part of a nationwide virtual parade.
A programme of national events, including a two-minute’s silence at 11am and Vera Lynn sing-along at 9pm, has also been published for residents across the country to follow over the bank holiday.
“The important point to stress is social distancing,” says Dr Carter, who served in the Army medical corps for 10 years.
“We must not give Covid-19 a chance to start spreading by breaking our social distancing rules – this would lead to more people falling ill, and further pressure on the NHS, and ultimately lives lost.
“What we do not want are any large gatherings – that would dangerous.”
Kent County Council is also encouraging residents to join in the VE Day celebrations on Friday.
To mark the event, staff from the archives at the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone have produced a video with several of them reading excerpts from various documents featuring people’s memories of the events of the day.
Kent Voices from VE Day includes readings of items from personal diaries, parish magazines and local government literature. It can be viewed at kentarchives.org.uk
KCC chairman Cllr Ann Allen said: “The current pandemic prevents us marking the event with many of our friends, family and loved ones and we must stay home to save lives and protect the NHS. But in the midst of all that is happening we must remember the sacrifice of all those who fought and worked, both abroad and at home, to bring peace to Europe, and we must remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and did not come home.”
How Kent celebrated in 1945 – centre pages