The planned commemorations for VE Day on Friday may have been called off, but the community in Ripon is preparing to ensure the 75th anniversary will not go unmarked despite the coronavirus lockdown.

The city council is calling on citizens to join in a city-wide clap at 3pm, while earlier in the day at 11am, Ripon Cathedral will host a virtual service on YouTube, featuring the Archbishop of York, The Most Rev Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu. Commemorative planting has already been completed as a public display to mark the anniversary.

Councillor Andrew Williams, chair of the the city council’s events committee, told The Stray Ferret:

“The significance of 3pm on May 8th is the fact that this was the time when Churchill spoke to the nation 75 years ago, signalling the end of the war in Europe.”

Cllr Williams added:

“As well as encouraging residents to join in a city-wide clap, we are asking them to decorate their windows red, white and blue. We are extremely disappointed that the three days of celebrations we planned had to be cancelled, but we must at least acknowledge the service and sacrifice of those who served in the second world war.”

The commemorative VE Day service at Ripon Cathedral can be watched via the cathedral’s website and will include singing from the Dishforth Military Wives Choir and music from the Black Dyke brass band. The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Mrs Jo Ropner, will give a short reading and the Archbishop will give a brief reflection. As the service draws to a close, Tom Coxhead, the cathedral’s assistant organist, will play ‘Spitfire Prelude’ which William Walton wrote for the 1942 film ‘The First of the Few’.

Originally the cathedral was to have hosted a service for the county on VE Day, but as with its Easter Day and other services, is  using YouTube to reach out to the community.