The 80th anniversary of VE Day was marked with a special beacon lighting event in Queen’s Park in Loughborough.
The event formed part of a national chain of light to honour the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Residents gathered from 8.30pm to enjoy a series of activities and information stalls, including displays by the Army Reserve, Royal British Legion, Loughborough Wellbeing Centre and more.
The beacon was lit at approximately 9.30pm, symbolising peace, remembrance and hope.
A special moment of the evening was the participation of 90-year-old Sileby resident Sheila Breed, the winner of the Council’s competition to find a local resident to light the beacon.
Mrs Breed said: “To be chosen for this moment was incredibly humbling.
“I was brought to Charnwood as an evacuee during the Second World War at five years of age and I have lived here ever since.
“I am so proud to have been able to play a small part in the service and pay my respects on such an important milestone. It is an experience I will never forget.”
Mayor of Charnwood, Cllr Dr Julie Bradshaw MBE, said: “It was a great honour to stand once again in Queen’s Park and light a beacon in remembrance.
“This event offered a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made during the Second World War and of Charnwood’s deep military roots. The turnout this evening truly showed our community’s enduring respect and gratitude.”
Councillor Liz Blackshaw, the Council’s Armed Forces Champion, was compere for the event. She added: “The Armed Forces community is strong in Charnwood, and the people who live in the borough always come out to show their respect for people who have served and are still serving.
“I am very proud to have played a small role in such an important event and am looking forward to celebrating Armed Forces Day in June and VJ Day in August.”
Earlier in the day, the Mayor and Cllr Blackshaw attended flag-raising ceremonies in Mountsorrel and at Charnwood Borough Council’s offices on Southfields Road, accompanied by local dignitaries and veterans.
The VE Day event was part of a wider borough-wide commemoration, with several towns and villages across Charnwood also holding beacon lighting ceremonies and remembrance events.
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