VE DAY PICTURE SPECIAL
DESPITE no social gatherings Leek Town Council laid four wreaths to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day on Friday, writes LES JACKSON.
Town mayor Sue Coleman and deputy mayor Stephen Wales laid a wreath at the Nicholson War Memorial in Leek. Mrs Coleman then went on to lay one at St Edward’s Church while Mr Wales laid wreaths at the Ball Haye Green and Leekbrook War Memorials.
Mr Wales said: “Despite no gatherings allowed it was important that we did not let the event pass without some commemoration to those who served in the war.
“We were keen to demonstrate that the town will never forget, so it was agreed to lay wreaths on the four sites.”
The village of Butterton is Staffordshire’s only doubly thankful village.
The community saw all its men return from both World Wars, which now allows it to be named a ‘Doubly Thankful’ village.
The village had 15 men serving in World War One and 16 in World War Two. Because of all the men returning home safely, the village has no war memorial.
Butterton History Group had plans for VE Day remembrance, which had to be cancelled. However, residents did their best not to allow VE Day 75 to go uncelebrated.
Flags and bunting decorated the village, while a two minute silence was observed at the church gates and wreaths were laid.
Chairman of Butterton
History Group, Maggie Risby said: “It was good to see a few people gathered, albeit socially distanced. Everyone returned to their homes and then had afternoon tea in the gardens with crustless sandwiches and fresh cream scones!
“There was ‘Music at the Ford’ courtesy of Les and Hilary Bassett, and Matt from the Black Lion played the Last Post during the afternoon, just before Winston Churchill’s speech.
“Butterton Doubly Thankful Village Facebook page has featured our 16 Doubly Thankful men and a surprise gift was sent to Eddie Mollatt, our sole surviving WW11 man, in thanks for supplying so much information re our WW11 service people.”
One house in Cheddleton Heath was decorated for VE Day on Friday.
The house and front garden is the home of Alan and Diane Wright on Cheddleton Heath Road.
Diane is pictured with the VE Day display which features original photographs from a garden party in Cheddleton Heath from the original VE celebrations in 1945.
The hilltop village of Ipstones celebrated following the Queen’s speech at 9pm.
Residents took to their gardens to sing the Vera Lynn song ‘We’ll Meet Again’ which was followed by a toast.