Share your photos and videos of VE Day celebrations in Harborough

People across Harborough are being urged to mark VE Day 75 on Friday May 8 by sharing photos and videos of their celebrations online.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill made an historic radio declaration at 3pm on May 8, 1945 that the war in Europe was over after Hitler’s Germany’s surrendered.

To commemorate this monumental milestone, Harborough District Council is encouraging residents to:

· Toast the nation at 3pm and share selfie photos on social media using the #VEDay75 hashtag (and #Harborough hashtag which the council will be retweeting)

· Decorate their homes or businesses (if they are open) with bunting and share photos on social media

· Share their old VE Day photos or memories on social media

· Watch and listen in to local and national broadcasts celebrating VE Day 75, including the Queen’s address to the country at 9pm on Friday.

Winners of the council’s recent VE Day 75 poetry competition will be announced by email and on social media on Friday.

Runners-up will have their work shared on social media over the VE75 weekend.

Cllr Phil King, leader of Harborough District Council, said: “This is a time to look back and celebrate a significant moment in our history, as well as remembering the sacrifice of so many.

“It is important that we mark this occasion in our own special ways, but even more crucial that we do this safely and in a way that observes strict social distancing.”

The authority is reminding people to make sure they celebrate safely in light of Government guidance on social distancing and not to mix with other people.

The following guidance for VE Day 75 has been issued by the Government:

* Residents are being urged to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day from the safety of their homes

* In line with national guidance on social distancing, most events planned to mark 75 years since VE Day on Friday May 8 have been cancelled

Residents are still being encouraged to celebrate in their homes by displaying posters, bunting and hosting tea parties with a wartime menu while continuing to follow social distancing guidelines.

· People are being asked by local BBC radio stations to take part in the ‘Great British Bunting’.

· They can create their very own VE Day 75 bunting and display it in their windows from Friday May 8 to Sunday May 10.

· For those wanting to host their own tea party in their home, a range of different recipes from the 1940s and a music playlist are available from the national VE Day 75 campaign.

· National events include a two-minute silence at 11am, the ‘Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of World War II’ at 3pm and a televised address from the Queen at 9pm.

· The pre-recorded address by the Queen will be followed by a national sing-along of wartime forces sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn’s iconic hit ‘We’ll Meet Again’.

· The ‘Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of World War II’ will take place at 3pm.

· You can take part by standing at home and raising a glass with the following toast - “To those who gave so much, we thank you”.

· Harborough council is also keen to gather photos, videos, stories and artwork of people celebrating VE Day.

· These will help to create the ‘Isolated but Inspired’ project, a digital time capsule to document this unique period in social history.

· The scheme’s being co-ordinated by Leicestershire’s Museum Service.

· Share your views, pictures and more on Twitter with the hashtag #VEDay75.