VE Day 80 Celebrations
Throughout the VE Day 80 on Thursday 8 May, Burgess Hill will be playing its part in the commemorations and celebrations. We will remember the sacrifice made by those 90 Burgess Hill young men who lost their lives and the sorrow of their families, the contribution made by countless others, and celebrate the advent of peace after 6 years of conflict.
Thursday 1 May
VE Day 80 celebrations commence early in Burgess Hill with a ‘Pre VE Day tea party’ on Thursday 1 May!
Burgess Hill senior citizens & adult residents who are feeling isolated are invited to join us at Kings Weald Community Centre, from 2-4pm (doors at 1.50pm) for refreshments and entertainment.
It is free to attend by spaces must be booked in advance from 1 April via the Help Point at 96 Church Walk or by calling 01444 247726. The Kings Weald Community Centre is serviced by buses 35a and 35c.
For further information call 01444 247726 or email Communityteam@burgesshill.gov.uk
The hall hire for this event has kindly been funded by Goodoaks Homecare. Co-op are generously providing food for this event too.
Thursday 8 May
Commemorations will start at 9am with a reflective service at the War Memorial. There will be wreath laying by the Town Mayor and Royal British Legion Representatives, as well as readings. The service will then finish with the raising of the flag and a hymn.
The full Order of Service is available here.
At 12.30pm there will be a Street Tea Party on Church Walk, which is by invitation only to community groups. The Town Council are grateful to Goodoaks Homecare for providing food and the Burgess Hill Martlets Womens Institute for their support of this event. There will be an opportunity to enter the Cake Competition, entries must be brought to the Theatre Club from 11am-11.30am for judging. Please provide a full list of ingredients – these will be served to our invited attendees.
The full celebration will then commence in St John’s Park with stage entertainment including Tobias, theatre club and Marco the magician. There will be a traditional games area open from 4.30pm -7.30pm. Weald Classic Vehicles will be joining the event at 5.30pm-8.30pm
The Community celebrations will come to a close with the lighting of the beacon at 9.30pm, followed by a rendition of ‘I Vow To Thee My Country’.
A full programme of the VE Day activities is available here with more information on the events. Please see our social mediate for further updates, or sign up to our events mailing list here.
Share your photos!
We want your photos of your VE Day celebrations, whether that be you enjoying one of our events or a celebration you organised yourself! Please share your photos with communityteam@burgesshill.gov.uk
