CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF VE DAY SHOULD TAKE PLACE ’ON THE HOME FRONT’.

That’s the message from Salford City Council which has collected more than 50 ideas for all the family to celebrate during the weekend of May 8 to May 10 while staying safely at home.

The activities, which can be found at  www.salford.gov.uk/VEDay75 and are being promoted on social media range from making your own Spitfire, designing your own Squander Bug and colouring in bunting, to trying out wartime recipes for a tea party and learning why lipstick was a weapon of war.

The collection also includes links to history, wartime places to visit online such as Churchill’s War Rooms and Liverpool’s War Museum which was the headquarters for the Battle of the Atlantic and tells the story of two local war heroes who now live at Broughton House, Salford which is trying to raise £1 million to build the north west’s first veteran’s care village.

The council has also paid tribute to those who served and sacrificed both in the Second World War and in today’s fight against Coronavirus with giant banners at the Civic Centre in Swinton.

Veterans champions Councillor Margaret Morris MBE and Councillor Barry Warner said it was vital people continued the ‘war effort’ and continued to observe the social distancing instructions.

Councillor Morris said:

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“It is a huge shame that we cannot have street parties but the risk of catching and spreading Coronavirus is too great. That’s why we have put so much work into ideas for all the family to mark the weekend in their homes.”

Councillor Warner added:

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“We support the Royal British Legion’s call for people to participate from home and pay tribute to the entire Second World War generation from British, Commonwealth and Allied forces, to evacuees and those who served on the home front.”

The Legion’s activities include a two minute silence at 11am on Friday May 8, to honour the service and sacrifice of the Second World War generation, and reflect on the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on so many lives across the world.

That will be followed by a livestream event on the Legion’s website, sharing Second World War stories and memories, an evening of memories and music from 8pm on BBC One and a national rendition of Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll Meet Again’ at 9pm.