Wirral VE Day celebrations revealed
Events to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day in Wirral have been revealed and include a special service in Hamilton Square, a Town Hall tea dance, and church bells ringing out in unison across the borough.
Thursday 8 May 2025 will mark 80 years since Victory in Europe (VE Day) brought the Second World War to an end in Europe. The local events aim to show gratitude to the men, women and children who fought for freedom, contributed to the war effort, and helped to secure many decades of peace.
The Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Cherry Povall JP, said:
After six hard years of fighting, which brought unbearable heartbreak for many, most of the country was able to give a huge sigh of relief on VE Day and to take a moment to celebrate their victory over Nazi tyranny.
Across Wirral, church bells rang, bonfires were lit, and neighbours joined together to throw hundreds of street parties - It must have been the party to end all parties.
Although 80 years have passed, the scale and significance of what they achieved will be remembered forever. I look forward to reflecting on the incredible efforts and sacrifices made by our grandparents and great grandparents, who helped secure peace and our freedom. They are rightly considered to be Britain’s greatest generation.
Local commemorations will start at Wallasey Town Hall, where the Mayor will be joined by local veteran representatives to raise a special VE Day flag at 9.00am.
The Mayor will then travel to the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum to view an original painting of VE Day Celebrations in Hamilton Square, Birkenhead, which will be put on display especially for the 80th anniversary and will be available for the public to view until December.
At 11.00am the Rector of Birkenhead Priory Parish, Revd Paul Bentley, will lead a Service of Commemoration and Celebration in Hamilton Square. The service will include a reading of the national VE Day Anniversary Proclamation and a performance by children from Birkenhead School. The rousing sound of pipes and drums from Wirral Pipe Band will also fill the square, with the local premier of Celebratum, which has been composed for pipers to play at VE Day celebrations across the country.
From 1.00pm the Mayor’s Charity Fund is holding a VE Day tea dance and sing-along featuring the Bel Canto Singers at Wallasey town hall to raise funds for local good causes.
In an echo of what happened 80 years earlier, church bells will ring across Wirral and the rest of the country at 6.30pm in a collective act of thanksgiving. The Mayor will join bellringers and the Rector of St Andrew’s in Bebington to start their peal.
There will also be a rare opportunity to visit the secret wartime manufacturing facility beneath the New Palace in New Brighton - officially registered as US Army Depot 0616 – throughout the day.
To celebrate the 80th anniversary, Wilkie Leisure Group is opening tunnels under the Amusements Arcade to reveal its hidden World War Two story, where two hundred ordinary women made an extraordinary contribution to the war effort.
Working underground up to eight hours a day, they produced 25,000 20mm shell cases and more than 250,000 machine gun bullets each week. Visitors can also visit the underground social club - The Creep Inn - where Forces Sweetheart Vera Lynn sang ‘We’ll Meet Again’ during a secret visit.
Tours will be available through New Brighton Heritage Centre and can be booked online.
10 Second World War veterans. One powerful letter.
10 surviving Second World War veterans have released an open letter, inviting people to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day. The letter is read by a remarkable group of veterans and public figures, encouraging everyone to come together to celebrate and remember on VE Day.
For more information about VE Day visit the Imperial War Museum website.
