THE WHOLE of Bromsgrove is being urged to take part in a virtual commemoration to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day after ‘the biggest street party the town had ever seen’ had to be postponed, due to coronavirus.
On the May 8 bank holiday, all of the High Street and Worcester Road was due to be closed from The Strand to the Black Cross for the £30,000 extravaganza, featuring live music music from the 1940s, street food from allied countries, bars, a big lunch and more.
That will now take place on May 9, 2021, but organisers Jules Evans and the town’s Royal British Legion could not let this year’s anniversary pass without commemoration.
So with the help of former Artrix technical co-ordinator Chris Lee, a Virtual VE Day ‘Stay at Home Street Party’ packed full of entertainment is being put together for May 10.
All the original performers, including Vintage Class, Blackwell Concert Band, the People’s Orchestra, Droitwich Ukulele Band, the Worcestershire Jazz Orchestra, Catherine Tabberner and Town Crier Kevin Ward will have their shows streamed.
Links will be available to the films that were due to be shown on the big screen and the day will culminate with a mass online singalong of wartime classic ‘We’ll Meet Again’.
Ready for the anniversary on the Friday, people are urged to decorate the front of their homes in red, white and blue, with bunting and Union Flags.
And then on the Sunday, they can take their phones, laptops or tablets out with them for the entertainment and hold picnics in their front gardens or on their driveways.
Jules said: “We have got as many people who were due to perform on the day as we could to be involved in the virtual version.
“If everyone in each household remains in their gardens social distancing will be maintained.
“It’s important we have something to look forward to ahead of the anniversary and to mark the day.
“This way we will be able to get some of the community spirit and we will also be asking for people’s pictures of the day afterwards so we can record everything that took place.”
Pictures can be emailed to [email protected] .
