Commemorations Held Across UK for VE Day's 80th Anniversary

Communities across the UK observed the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day with a variety of commemorative events honoring the sacrifices made during World War II. In Cardiff, Eva Clarke, a Holocaust survivor born in a concentration camp days before liberation, received a Personal Peace Award for her lifelong work educating about the Holocaust and promoting tolerance. The Lord Mayor of London paid tribute to war heroes and Winston Churchill at St Paul's Cathedral, emphasizing the importance of vigilance in defending the freedoms won. Local services, such as the one in Hailsham, brought together residents, veterans, and officials to reflect on the sacrifices and celebrate the freedoms enjoyed today, with additional community celebrations planned. The Isle of Man hosted multiple remembrance ceremonies, a big band concert, and a traditional drumhead service, culminating in the lighting of a commemorative beacon. Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar participated in multiple VE Day events, stressing the need to honor veterans and uphold the freedoms secured by the wartime generation.