The 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day was marked with services of commemoration in the borough of Rochdale.
Services at Rochdale Cenotaph and Middleton Memorial Gardens saw armed forces personnel, Members of Parliament, councillors, residents and local schools came together to commemorate the historic day on 8 May 1945, when the guns finally fell silent and World War II came to an end in Europe.
VE Day veteran, 102-year-old Newbold resident Kenneth Wright, was a special guest at the Rochdale service and was greeted with a huge round of applause before laying a wreath on behalf of the armed forces community.
Kenneth played a key role in the allied forces’ victory and had landed at Normandy in 1944, as part of the Suffolk Regiment. This key operation marked the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany’s control in western Europe.
Wreaths were also laid by Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Shakil Ahmed, council leader Neil Emmott, Rochdale MP Paul Waugh, and Heywood and North Middleton MP, Elsie Blundell.
Councillor Janet Emsley, the council’s lead member for the armed forces, read out an excerpt from Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill’s speech to the nation on 8 May 1945. Councillor Emsley said:
“It was fitting and poignant that we came together at Rochdale Cenotaph, adjacent to the town hall, where thousands had gathered in the very same location 80 years ago to celebrate the joyous news that peace had broken out. The service did our borough proud and it was heartening to see so many generations, including the town’s last surviving VE Day veteran Kenneth Wright, present to pay their respects. Lest we forget.”
Paul Waugh MP said:
“As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we pause to remember the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of the generation who endured the hardships of war to secure peace and freedom for future generations. Laying a wreath at Rochdale Cenotaph is a solemn honour, and I did so on behalf of all those in our town who continue to hold their memory dear. Today, we reflected not only on victory, but on the resilience, unity and hope that defined a turning point in our history.”
Elsie Blundell MP said:
“I was proud to lay wreaths at services in Rochdale and Middleton and to commemorate such an important anniversary. That historic day in 1945 saw celebrations break out across our towns and villages and, 80 years on, it was lovely to see the borough once again coming together, with people of all ages commemorating the VE Day anniversary in such a moving way. We will always have a huge debt of gratitude to those helped to protect our liberty, freedoms and values.”