Veterans were honoured, flags raised and tea parties held as Westmorland and Furness Council marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
The council highlighted its forces-friendly values and placed the Armed Forces community centre-stage by inviting people from across Westmorland and Furness to a Veterans’ Get-Together on the eve of #VE80, along with support groups and the Royal British Legion.
Linda Jones, the council’s Armed Forces Lead Officer and Chief Legal and Monitoring Officer, hosted the gathering at Kendal Town Hall where dozens of people shared memories and gave thanks over tea, coffee and VE Day cakes iced in red, white and blue. The occasion was arranged to coincide with the council’s annual meeting in Kendal so that as many council officers and members as possible could attend to express their gratitude in person.
Westmorland and Furness Council’s Leader, Councillor Jonathan Brook, paid tribute to the Armed Forces past and present at the annual meeting, which veterans were invited to attend, saying: “I would like to add my personal thanks to those that have been expressed so eloquently on behalf of the nation over the last few days at official events all across this land.
“It is so easy to take for granted the peace we all enjoy in this country, without recognising or remembering that this has been bought at a cost, by those who have served and who continue to serve today in our Armed Forces and their families.
“It is right that we take time to reflect, to honour and thank all those who have put themselves in harm’s way, in order that we can enjoy the benefits of peace and freedom and democracy. Thank you all.”
In his last meeting as Chair of the council, Cllr Matt Severn said: “I want to recognise the service and sacrifice made by those veterans here today and their families; and of those veterans and families in World War Two 80 years ago in their defence of our nation and our democracy. So from me and the council, to you, our thanks.”
On VE Day itself – Thursday 8 May – Sam Plum, the council’s Chief Executive, and Linda Jones, Armed Forces Lead Officer, attended a civic service of thanksgiving at St James’ Church, Barrow. As church bells pealed, the council welcomed the congregation to a buffet laid on at Barrow Town Hall.
In Penrith, following the raising of the VE Day flag and a proclamation outside the town hall, attendees enjoyed refreshments courtesy of the council, with Penrith Town Council funding the hire of the Parish Rooms. Boyhood memories of street parties on VE Day 1945 were recalled by former Scots Guard Malcolm Temple, BEM, who wore his father and grandfather’s medals for the occasion.
Library staff in Barrow, Penrith and Kendal dressed in 1940s costume and Union Flag colours at VE Day tea parties for people of all ages, complete with vintage crockery, quizzes and nostalgic music.
Barrow’s Dock Museum showcased the story of wartime pigeon Tommy with a pop-up museum in the heroic bird’s home town, Dalton-in-Furness, where Curator Charlotte Hawley displayed Tommy’s Dickin Medal for bravery.
The council’s Lake Wardens raised the Red Ensign, as flown by the Merchant Navy, at their Ferry Nab base on Windermere. At town halls in Penrith, Kendal and Barrow, VE day flags flew full-mast. Kendal Town Hall was lit up with red poppies in remembrance, and Barrow Town Hall’s clock faces were illuminated in the Union Flag’s colours.
Service and campaign medals glinted at the council’s Veterans’ Get-Together, which highlighted the council’s commitment to ensuring that serving and retired personnel and their families are not disadvantaged, through the Armed Forces Board and the Armed Forces Covenant, which it signed as a new council in 2023. This work is promoted by the council’s Armed Forces Champions - Cllr Bill McEwan (Furness), Cllr Michael Eyles (Eden) and Cllr Vicky Hughes (South Lakeland) – who all attended the event.
Chris Maycock, Chair of Kendal’s Royal British Legion branch, praised the council’s work, which is led by Linda Jones. “To Linda, on behalf of everyone here, thank you for leading the charge,” he said. “It’s fair to say you do us absolutely proud, so thank you.”
Guests included Mr Maycock’s predecessor, John Train, a Royal Navy Reserve for 20 years, whose father served in the Royal Artillery. Mr Train attended from his Kendal care home and recalled his time as a seaman in Glasgow as “great fun”. He still attends brunch meetings of Kendal’s Royal British Legion branch, having chaired it for more than two decades.
Amid the chat over tea, coffee and cakes supplied by veteran Darren Hopton of Kendal’s Little Miss Bakery, there were poignant moments. Kendal Town Crier Richard Mathews recited the Exhortation – “Age shall not weary them…” – and bugler Andy Edgar, Warrant Officer 2, Royal Naval Reserve, sounded The Last Post and Reveille to open and close a two-minute silence.
The Standard Bearer was Angus Reid of the Type 42 Association, representing those who served in Type 42 Royal Navy Destroyers. “It can be quite a transition after leaving the forces,” he said. “When you come out it’s very, very hard. I’ve been out 30 years and I still have memories of the bad days. Things like this are needed to chat to each other.”
Support proved invaluable for Royal Navy veteran Gary Pettit, who worked closely with Royal Marines. Through Veterans Connect North, he helps to bring veterans together with support and activities such as meeting up monthly in Grange-over-Sands. “It’s about having someone close by to pick the phone up or meet for coffee,” he said. “Events like this prove to people that the council recognises this and they are doing something.
Kerryanne Wilde, Chair of Penrith’s Royal British Legion branch, runs a veteran’s breakfast club and works for the Ministry of Defence, having served in the British Army Intelligence Corps for 12 years. She said it was key for the council as a gold award holder in the MoD’s Employer Recognition Scheme to “lead the way in recognition of our fallen but also those that were back at home keeping everything running”. She praised the work of the council’s Armed Forces Board, as did Janet Preston, a Director of Kendal-based One Vision Uniformed Services CIC, which provides mental health counselling and therapy. She said: “We all need to be working together for the good of the veterans. I think Linda is doing a great job on that.”
Retired Colonel Mike Taylor CBE described himself as “a part-time Cold War warrior” in the Reserves - formerly the TA – and said it was important for the council to recognise veterans “on behalf of the local population”.
John Hodson recalled the “camaraderie” and humour during 22 years with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Cold War era Germany, Ireland and Hong Kong. Former Royal Marine turned firefighter John Capstick saw active service in the Falklands and said: “Events like this are definitely a good idea. Hopefully it will encourage other people to join the Armed Forces because, to me, you’ve got the best friends in the world.”
Colonel Chris Sanderson, Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria, who joined the British Army Intelligence Corps in 1975 and served for 30 years, described the council’s work to support veterans as “a really impressive example of getting people together.”
HM Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria, Mr Alexander Scott, added: “It’s a wonderful and fitting occasion to remember the sacrifices of those who served and an important opportunity to recognise the critical contribution of all our veterans and everybody who has contributed to our Armed Forces in the eight decades since VE Day.”
To find out more about the council’s work to support veterans, visit: https://bit.ly/ArmedForcesPersonnel