HOW WE’LL CELEBRATE VE DAY!
++ Bonfires and parades to mark historic victory ++ Pubs, dance halls and shops to open late
Britain’s plans for victory celebrations — which will take place after Mr Churchill gives the news that the war in Europe has finally ended — have been revealed by the government.
all local and licensing authorities have been sent a circular outlining what should happen when unconditional surrender by the enemy is announced.
at 9 o’clock on the evening of Ve Day the king will broadcast to the Empire.
all churches will be open for services and private prayer on that day.
Throughout the country church bells will be rung.
here are the rest of the arrangements, as the circular has given them:
THANKSGIVING
The sunday after Ve Day will be observed as a day of Thanksgiving and prayer. special services will be held in London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff. The king will attend the London service; and he will be represented at those in the other cities.
PARADES
ON Thanksgiving sunday, local victory Parades will be appropriate — either held with the Thanksgiving service or later in the day.
Parades should include as many aspects of the national effort as possible, the government suggests.
BONFIRES
‘There will be no objection to bonfires,’ says the circular, ‘but the government trusts that proper arrangements with the
National Fire service to guard against any possible spread of fire will be borne in mind.’
DANCE HALLS
Licensed dance halls will be allowed to stay open later than the normal closing hour.
FLOOD-LIGHTS
FULL street lighting cannot be permitted because of the fuel and labour shortage, but on Ve Night and the following night, authorities — except in the coast areas — can use any flood-lighting facilities they have.
in addition, the armed Forces will make available any lighting device that can be spared.
These may include searchlights and portable floodlighting apparatus, but their use will be subject to operational needs.
in London, the Ministry of Works will floodlight ‘important’ government buildings.
DRINK HOURS
Applications by licensees for extending drinking hours on the evening of Ve Day should be considered sympathetically.
however, the circular warns: ‘No exemption should be granted in respect of the afternoon “break”, nor should applications be entertained for any special permission on the day following Ve Day.’
SHOPS
The government has asked that food businesses should remain open for a few hours on Ve Day. grocers should keep open for at least one hour after the announcement. if Ve Day is a Friday, then open on saturday, close on Monday.
Dairymen should deliver milk on both days.
Bakers should ensure that after the announcement sufficient bread is made. They should make it for sale on the second day also, and open for one or two hours. The National Union of retail Tobacconists recommends shops stay open for three hours after the news is given.
This special souvenir tribute was prepared using historic editions of the Daily Mail published in May 1945.