VE DAY SPECIAL
Not the celebration we imagined but the town partied all the same
THE community paid respects, raised a glass and lifted their spirits during a sunny day of self-isolation and social distancing to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
A party atmosphere in the town’s streets and surrounding villages that brought friends, family and neighbours together in a spaced-out celebration followed a formal commemoration that was led by the Ashbourne branch of the Royal British Legion.
Readings, songs and videos were broadcast live on the town’s Covid-19 Support Group Facebook page from 10.30am, beginning with a live introduction message from the county’s new high sheriff Tony Walker, from Bradley.
The videos continued with a film made by the Ashbourne branch of the Royal British Legion, setting a poignant scene and encouraging people to remember those who died in WW2. Among the many participants were students from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School. Following a minute’s silence, at 11am, Ann Smith, who was broadcasting the events from a large television in her front garden in Park Avenue, read out a timeline of the part Ashbourne D-day veteran Bill Milward played in the conflict on June 6, 1944.
The morning session closed with the national anthem and it was followed with a less formal “stay at home street party” from 2.30pm. Households across the town and beyond adorned their driveways and gardens with red, white and blue and they all headed out to enjoy the festivities. A series of wartime songs were broadcast on Facebook Live and poems, photographs, artwork and messages were read out live online.
The virtual backdrop to one of the most unusual street parties in Ashbourne’s history was led by Ann Smith and her husband Ian. Ann said: “It went brilliantly from what I could see, everyone had a good time, and that was the main aim of it.
“It was to get everyone together even though they weren’t together, if you know what I mean. And also to give them something to focus on, something to look forward to. “I had a ride around some of the estates and everybody had made an absolutely fabulous effort and entered into the spirit into it. It was a really good day.”
Ashbourne Town Council and Ashbourne’s branch of the Royal British Legion had been planning a huge celebration in the town centre, centred around the Market Place and the town hall. But this had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus restrictions.
I had a ride around some of the estates and everybody had made an absolutely fabulous effort.
Ann Smith