A VE Day commemoration in South Kesteven has proved a huge success at home and even spread across the Atlantic to America.
Archive film footage of American troops stationed at huge airfields around Grantham during World War Two was shared as part of South Kesteven District Council’s online campaign encouraging residents to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day safely from their own homes and gardens.
A campaign of social media posts suggested ways to celebrate safely and illustrated a rich local aviation and airborne forces heritage, shared with America’s Commemorative Air Force network and Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire.
Cllr Kelham Cooke, the Leader of SKDC, said:
“Our rich heritage is one of the many things within our district of which I am very proud. It is a constant reminder of how much we all owe to that great generation of people.
“We may have had to cancel our street parties and commemorative events, but I am pleased that we still found ways to celebrate and remember VE Day safely and securely from our homes and gardens. Thank you to everyone who shared their celebrations with us online, it’s not the same as seeing people in person, but it was a wonderful way to bring together, virtually, friends and families across South Kesteven.”
Nearly 100 photos showing celebrations, cakes, bunting and flags have been collected in an album entitled ‘VE Day75 – What a Celebration’ which can be viewed on the council’s Facebook site.
The VE Day flag flew outside the council offices in Grantham and residents near Stamford caught sight of the RAF Red Arrows display team on their way to London to mark the national celebration.
All posts on the council’s Twitter and Facebook sites https://twitter.com/southkesteven and https://www.facebook.com/southkdc are still available to view.