Stansted Parish Council rallies residents to join in VE Day 75th anniversary party

The 75th anniversary of VE Day on Friday will be marked in Stansted with 'stay at home' street parties and a DJ's set streamed live online.

Villagers are being encouraged to hold celebrations in their front or back gardens and to join the live lockdown party with Stansted resident James 'Deejay Goochy' Goodge from 2.30pm.

He plans to set up his decks outside his West Road home. People can follow the live link on Facebook group 'VE Day Friday 8th May 2020'.

The celebrations are being led by Stansted Parish Council, which, like hundreds of authorities around the country, has been forced to cancel its original VE Day celebrations.

"But this doesn’t mean that the community cannot celebrate in style, so we’re teaming up with local resident James 'Deejay Goochy' Goodge to bring some entertainment to your homes," said council chair Cllr Maureen Caton.

"You can plan your own garden parties... dig out the barbecue, plan a tea party, decorate your garden or house in red, white and blue!

"We would love to see any pictures of your garden parties, so please email them to us at parishcouncil@stansted.net. We will try to put a selection of these on our website and in The Link for others to enjoy. We may be in lockdown, but we can still mark this special day by celebrating and remembering."

The national timetable for VE Day 75 on Friday is:

11am - 2 minutes' silence on your doorstep

3pm - Winston Churchill's speech on BBC TV

then grab your picnic blanket or garden table and head to your front garden for:

4pm - Tea and scones (or coffee and cake)

6pm - Dinner (and raise a glass to your neighbours)

9pm - Nationwide sing-along to Dame Vera Lynn's We'll Meet Again with the Royal British Legion after the Queen's address.