VE Day celebrations are in full swing across Greater Manchester

Streets were closed as patriotic residents across Greater Manchester joined in the VE Day 80th anniversary celebrations, donning union flag outfits and hats.

It was the perfect Bank Holiday Monday – if a little chilly – for people to put out bunting and picnic tables to mark the day in 1945 when Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allied forces.

VE Day on 8th of May brought an end to the Second World War, which had started in 1939, although the hostilities in the Far East against Japan did not conclude until August 1945.

VE Day in Manchester

A few weeks ago, it looked as though there would be no street parties in the borough of Trafford, but residents in Sale would have none of it, and celebrations went into full swing as Okehampton Crescent was closed off to traffic and bunting was put up for a party.

Organisers Clare Dickinson, Amy Bamford and Nicky Roberts said they were determined to hold a community event.

“There are a lot of infant school-age children in the street and we thought it would be perfect to have a VE Day party,” said Clare.

“But there’s a nice mixture of ages in the street, and it’s great to get everyone out and enjoying the day.”

It was a similar story not far away in Mornington Road. Organisers Sheila Houghton and George Bennett said the trend for holding street parties started as a result of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and continued with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 and then King Charles III’s Coronation.

Sheila, who served in the Navy where she met her partner Pete Middleton, said: “We were talking three weeks ago about maybe having a street party and when we found out how easy it was from the council, we decided to do it.”

Sheila’s dad Howard Houghton served in Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery’s Eighth Army – also known as the Desert Rats – which inflicted the first defeat on Adolf Hitler’s forces in at the battle of Alamein in Egypt and then later at the Battle of Caen in France following the Normandy landings.

George said: “Everyone is doing their own thing regarding food and drink, but there are also some communal tables. It’s great to see the community getting together like this.”

Celebrations in Wigan

Elsewhere, in the Wigan outpost of Abram, scores of residents of Ruskin Crescent entered into the VE Day spirit with picnic tables, food and music.

The organisers were Joy Jones and Eileen Sanky. And it was special day for Victor Johnson, who was born on May 8 1945 and who will celebrate his 80th birthday on VE Day this week.

“It’s a fantastic day,” said Victor. “I feel 80 years young.”

Joy added: “It’s great to celebrate, but I also think we have to remember those brave service personnel who sacrificed their lives for the freedom we enjoy today.”

Over in Manchester the mood was just as buoyant celebratory, Beaumont Street in Chorlton was closed for the day also and the streets were blocked with tents, tables, chairs, fruits spreads and a barbecue for good measure.

One of the people making the most of VE Day celebrations was local resident Andy, who has lived on Beaumont Road for 20 years.

“There’s a good vibe going on.” Said Andy. “I’ve been living here 20 years and we used to have parties for the World Cup, the Rugby World and we did one for the Royal Wedding.

“Having an event like this brings the community together. It’s unbelievable that 80 years ago there were bombs dropping and you didn’t know if it was going to be your house.

“It’s quite amazing really.”

VE Day in Moss Side

In Moss Side, outside St James’ Church, the party was just getting started with a DJ, jerk chicken being prepared and bouncy castle. Organiser, Wendy Simms, said that the community was holding celebrations to raise awareness about the diaspora’s contribution to the war.

“It’s happening because it’s a community that has come to make it happen. This was a last minute.com but we’re really putting it together.

“We’re doing this to raise awareness about the World War, but on a different level. Some people forget about VE Day because they just think it’s a bank holiday, they don’t know its purpose.

“People don’t remember that they were part of the war as well. Especially for people like us, Africans and Caribbeans, this is just to highlight that everybody was in this war.”

You can find out more about what’s planned by clicking here