Guide to VE Day events in the Harrogate district

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May 8 is the 80th anniversary of VE Day, which marks the end of the Second World War in Europe. 

The Stray Ferret has prepared a list of VE Day events across the district.

If you know of any missing, email the details to contact@thestrayferret.co.uk and we will include it in this guide.

Harrogate

Harrogate town centre

Commemorations will be held in Harrogate, which have been organised by Harrogate BID.

• A contained commemoration will be held around the Cenotaph area from 6pm on the evening of May 8 to mark the occasion. 
  
• A specially commissioned artwork installation, created by local artist Sarah Marsh, will be placed on the Cenotaph area to mark the milestone.
  
• A projection on the Victoria Shopping Centre, fully funded by Harrogate BID, will also add to the VE Day tributes in the town centre.
  
• Red, white and blue bunting will line the town centre streets, while the creative lighting installed by Harrogate BID will be changed to match these colours. 
  

Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall

The Memorial Hall was established to give thanks to residents who returned from both World Wars and to honour those who didn’t.

• Throughout April: WW2 exhibition in Memorial Hall
• May 8: Café René with music from Vera Lynn in the community library
• May 10: 12.30pm-4.30pm at the Joiners Garden – Family picnic and games with music from Harrogate Spa Town Ukes. A speech from Winston Churchill will be heard at 3pm.
• May 10: 7pm-11.30pm at the Memorial Hall – 1940s themed dance party with The Sultans of Swing Big Band and Swing Dance Leeds, with catering from The Hogfather and Queens Head. Tickets are £15 and include supper.

Find out more here.

St Thomas a Becket Parish Church, Hampsthwaite

• May 8: Afternoon tea/coffee, cake and prosecco will be hosted at the church with music from the era provided by Ashville College. At 4pm, the Last Post, a minute’s silence and Reveille will be observed.
• May 9: An evening concert by Voces Seraphorum, with songs from the era and the opportunity to sing along.

Hampsthwaite Village Room

• May 4: 3-4pm – Local author Julian Horrocks will discuss his book Alanbrooke: The Reluctant Warrior. The book examines the war diaries of Field Marshall Alanbrooke, Commander in Chief of the Home Forces and then head of the UK Army as Chief of the Imperial General Staff. It is is a behind the scenes first person account of British failures and triumphs in World War II. Julian’s talk will appeal to anyone interested in UK military history, WWII, the Allied Victory in Europe, military strategy, and the military and political challenges facing the UK in the 21st century. The event is free and open to all. Please RSVP via the Facebook event here.

St Robert’s Church, Pannal

• May 8: 8.45pm-9.30pm – The proclamation will be read, and a beacon will be lit. It is hoped a band will be present and parishioner attendees will sing “I Vow to Thee My Country”. The car park will be decorated with bunting.

Find out more here.

West Park Centre

• May 6: 7pm – Jane Furze and Guy Wilson of the Ripon Military Heritage Trust will explain the largely unknown role of Harrogate and Ripon during World War Two. Guy is a military historian and is a former head of the Royal Armories. He created the libretto for Karl Jenkins The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. Jane is an architectural historian and has worked with The Royal Commission on Historical Monuments of England and The Georgian Group and as an Inspector of Historic Buildings. Tickets £5 from www.trybooking.com/uk/ERDC or contact 07460 470003.

Grove Road Cemetery

• May 9: 1:30pm – Tour of the Cemetery where there are 37 Commonwealth War Graves including 11 local soldiers killed in WW1, some serving in the Canadian forces and a munitions worker killed at the Barnbow Shell factory. During the tour you will learn about the history of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and look at the stories of some of the service personnel buried in the cemetery. 

Cenotaph

• May 8: A specially commissioned artwork installation, created by local artist Sarah Marsh, will be placed on the Cenotaph area to mark the milestone. Meanwhile, informative boards sharing facts and details on how VE Day was celebrated in Harrogate will be placed in the same location to help both local people and residents to learn about town’s heritage and experiences during the war.

Victoria Shopping Centre

• May 8: A projection on the Victoria Shopping Centre, fully funded by Harrogate BID, will add to the VE Day tributes in the town centre. Red, white and blue bunting will line the town centre streets, while the creative lighting installed by Harrogate BID will changeover to match these colours.

Knaresborough

Market Cross

• May 8: 9am – The VE Day proclamation will be read by the Town Crier.

Castle Grounds

• May 8: 6pm – Live event from the Knaresborough Town Council stage with 1940s themed music, bands and dance performances. Refreshments will be available in the Castle Grounds.
• May 8: 8:30pm – Members of the Knaresborough branch of the Royal British Legion, Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps will parade in the castle grounds to the war memorial.

Find out more here.

War memorial

• May 8: 8.45pm – Rev. Garry Hinchcliffe will lead prayers of remembrance and I Vow to Thee My Country will be sung.
• May 8: 9pm – The lighting of the beacon.

Ripon

Ripon Cathedral

• May 8: 7.15pm – VE Day Proms. Artists include Echo 42 Big Band, Charlotte Potter, The Duchy Belles and Simeon Wood. Children from Brackenfield School and Natalie Robb from Emmerdale fame will be doing readings. Tickets £15. Available from: Stuff 4 Offices, 13 Fishergate, Ripon; The Wakeman Café, 33 Market Place, Ripon; Ripon Cathedral Gift Shop. Or from www.riponcommunitypp.co.uk.

Ripon Market Square

• May 8: 6pm-9.30pm – Family friendly activities with Jennyruth workshops. 1940’s vocalist to bring the era to life. Live music from All for One Choir. Vintage games with Ripon Museums. Climbing wall.
• April 29-May 9: Ripon Community Poppy project’s knitted tank will be back on display.

West Tanfield

• May 1-12: 1940-50s themed scarecrow trail. Tickets available at the info shop.
• May 4: 1pm-12am – Tanfest Music at the Bruce Arms
• May 8: 7pm – Commemorative service at the Churchyard
• May 8: 8.30pm – Beacon lighting
• May 10: 2.30pm –  Street Party Church Street. Book your place at the info shop.

Ripon Cemetery

• May 8: 2pm – Tour of Ripon Cemetery, which contains 122 scattered burials from World War 1 and 59 World War 2 burials. During the tour you will learn about the history of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and about the heroic actions and self-sacrifice of some of our casualties buried in the cemetery. 

Dishforth Cemetery

• May 8: 2pm – Tour of Dishforth Cemetery, which contains 78 World War 2 burials, of whom all were airmen and the majority belonging to the Royal Canadian Air Force. Many of the Canadian airmen buried here were stationed at Dishforth, the airfield having been used by No. 6 (R.C.A.F.) Bomber Group. During the tour you will learn about the history of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and about the heroic actions and self-sacrifice of some of our casualties buried in the cemetery. 

If you are hosting a VE Day event and are not on our list, contact us on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk or on 01423 276197.