Commemorations nationally start on Monday May 5 – the early bank holiday – and include a Military procession, flypast, the return of the poppies to the Tower of London. We would like town businesses, shops and houses to decorate their buildings from this day.

VE Day itself falls on Thursday May 8 and Abingdon Royal British Legion, supported by Abingdon Town Council, will be hosting a series of events to mark the 80th anniversary. These include a concert at St Helen’s Church featuring Abingdon Town Band, the Albert Park singers and Abingdon drama club. The day will start with a VE flag being raised from County Hall at 9.00 am, a town cry and at 12 noon, a short ceremony laying blue flowers for peace and wreaths at the war memorial. Church bells will ring out at 6.30pm and the concert start at 7.30pm.

Our aim is to include all parts of the community from church bell-ringers, to town actors, singers, musicians, car and railway enthusiasts as well as veterans, cadets and our twin towns. All of our events are free with donations to the Poppy Appeal.

On Saturday May 10, our activities focus on the Spring Road social club with a 40-foot display of the Operation Overlord model railway. There will be Morris dancing in the afternoon, music in the evening and the opportunity to view a display made by the children from Carswell School.

On Sunday May 11, attention turns to the town centre with a rally of MGs on the Market Place and an exhibition of the role of MG factory played in the war effort. No job was considered too big or small and it built everything from 16 ton tanks to fuel dipsticks.

Of course, the war didn’t end on May 8. It wasn’t until August when Victory over Japan was declared that the true celebrations could begin. In August, we will be organising a community picnic with fun bun throwing to see who can throw a bun the furthest. And we hope to take over the Market Place for a morning of music.

We hope that you will join in these commemorations, and see them as way of honouring the part played by our town.