70th Anniversary VE Day celebrations

A special celebration of the 70th anniversary of VE Day is taking place at M Shed on 8 May, 7:30pm to 10pm.

The celebration is part of a weekend of nationwide celebrations to mark a day on which millions of people throughout the UK shared an unprecedented moment of relief and euphoria that the war in Europe had stopped - 70 years on.

The Bristol celebrations also form part of The Bristol Armed Forces Covenant which aims to build relationships and encourage support for in-service and ex-service personnel and their families.

A two minute silence will be held at 3pm on the 8^th of May to mark the moment Sir Winston Churchill broadcast his historic speech to formally announce the wars conclusion.

Members of the public are then invited to link with other UK cities by lighting a ceremonial beacon on the roof of M Shed.

M Shed will be open from 7.30pm when people can explore Bristol’s significant role played in the Second World War through the galleries and displays.

At 8pm, local theatrical company, ‘Ministry of Entertainment’ will perform their World War 2 play, ‘Doodlebugs and Bogeymen’. The production is a dramatization of true stories taken from World War 2 and is performed with songs and music from the era.*

Cllr Alastair Watson, Lord Mayor of Bristol will then light the ceremonial beacon on top of M Shed at 9:30pm. The beacon is one of a national chain placed across the UK and will be lit to symbolise the end of nearly six years of war across Europe.

Cllr Watson said: “This event is part of a weekend of activities which will bring people together to celebrate the 70^th anniversary of one of the most important dates in Bristol and our nation’s history.

“Bristol was bombed heavily during the war but the spirit of the people was never broken and I’d encourage everyone to come along to M Shed and join us for what promises to be fantastic evening of celebration.”

The museum shall be open to everyone who’d like to watch the lighting of the beacon however spaces for this performance are limited, so reserve your space by visiting: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ve-day-70th-anniversary-event-tickets-16595209719

Members of the public are also invited to show their support for past, present and future servicemen and women as Bristol hosts its second official Armed Forces Day on Sunday 28 June at Queen Square from 10am to 4pm. For more information go to: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/bristol-armed-forces-day-2015