Rye joined villages, towns and cities all over the world to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday, May 8 with events commemorating the end of the war in Europe in 1945.
The day began at 9am with town crier Paul Goring making a special proclamation from the top of St Mary’s church tower.
At lunchtime, Rye Town Hall was the focus for an event which began with Ryebellion Drummers just after 1pm. Leading the event, Paul Goring told the crowd outside the Buttermarket to imagine the relief people must have felt in 1945 as he played the speech by Sir Winston Churchill announcing the end of fighting.
Martin Bruce read the poem V Day by Edmund Blunden. Cllr Rebekah Gilbert sang When the lights go on again.
Colonel Anthony Kimber, president of Rye British Legion, explained how the town was very much on the frontline during the second world war. “There are 44 names from the conflict on the Rye war memorial and people on most streets would have known somebody who died. Mines were laid on the beach as Rye was reinforced in case of invasion.”
After a two minute silence, the impact of the war in the skies was noted by Mayor Cllr Andy Stuart. “Rye was a target and many bombs were dropped. That fear ended on VE Day. We have so much to be thankful for.”
Following songs, poems and prayers led by Rev Paul White, the event finished with a singalong of wartime songs including We’ll Meet Again and The White Cliffs of Dover.
Also on Thursday, the Mermaid Inn celebrated by serving beer at 1945 prices. At Tilling Green Community Centre there was a special VE Day tea party. Church bells were rung at 6:30pm and at 9:30pm beacons were lit in Rye and Winchelsea.
Image Credits: Kt Bruce , Kt bruce .