VE Day fun in Mellor

A VE Day celebration is due to take place on Mill Brow this weekend.

It kicks off with a performance by The Vintage Vocalist in a marquee next to the Hare and Hounds pub on Friday at 8pm. Tickets cost £5. On Saturday there will be a peal of bells lasting 70 minutes at Mellor Church from 11am.

The first peal will be rung by Eric Knuffen, who rang the peal in Mellor to mark the end of the war in 1945 when he was a teenager, and is travelling down from Scotland for the event.

The second minute will be rung by Allen Whittaker, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Manchester and chief executive at Stockport charity Beechwood Cancer Care.

He said: “I lived in Mellor from being born until I left when I got married at Mellor Church aged 27.

“My parents were married at Mellor Church and I was christened and confirmed there too, so it is a great honour for me.”

The remainder of the minutes are being ‘sold’ for charity, with people and organisations putting their names down to ring the bells in return for a donation.

After the bell peal there will be a village fun day and hog roast from 2pm, with the road closed to traffic and attractions such as a tug-o-war and cake stall.

Entertainment will be provided by the Hare and Hounds choir, followed by a big band night in the marquee from 8.30pm with The Debonaires.

On the Sunday there will be a foraging course from 11am with medical herbalist Jesper Launder, allowing people to find out how people provided for themselves during the war, followed by a guided tour of the Stockport Air Raid Shelters.

Tom Hadfield, from the Friends of Mill Brow group, which has organised the weekend, said: “It will be a real community event – some of us are even putting on a bit of a show in the afternoon on Saturday.

“It is going to be a very busy weekend.”

Tickets for the evening events are available from the Hare and Hounds pub, on Mill Brow.

For more information visit the Friends of Mill Brow website at friendsofmillbrow.co.uk or facebook.com/ millbrowevents.