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VE HEROES HONOURED WITH VINTAGE AIRSHOW AND STREET PARTIES
THE 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War will be celebrated by a host of varied VE Day community events beginning next week in the North West. Home Front Recall grants announced today will fund the activities allowing many local communities the chance to celebrate this important anniversary.
The £12.3 million Home Front Recall scheme, a joint initiative from Lottery good cause distributors the Big Lottery Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund supports activities commemorating the part played by those on the home front during the war years 6 decades ago - former fire fighters, auxiliary services, nurses, Bevin Boys, dock workers, ex-service clubs and people in many other roles are organising activities.
Home Front Grants now totalling £ 734,190 in the North West, will fund a diverse range of special projects in the coming weeks and months celebrating 60 years since Victory in Europe. Regional events include re-enactment days, drama workshops, a vintage air show, reunions for WWII veterans, concerts, street parties and WWII exhibitions.
Blackpool Council has received a £20,000 award to fund the VE and VJ Day commemorative 'Tribute Air Show' on 10 July on Blackpool's famous Promenade. The event will honour the people who lived and worked in Blackpool during the war especially those whose skills supported Britain's air defences.
"The show will include planes from several eras including a Tucano, a Hawk, a Spitfire, a Hurricane and a Harrier Jump Jet. The Blue Eagles Army Air Corps and aerobatics team the Red Arrows will also be there. This generous grant has allowed us the chance to celebrate this important anniversary in true style. It's a tribute to all those individuals who dedicated their lives to the war effort. It's our way of saying thank you," Blackpool Council's Jane Seddon said.
Age Concern Tameside will hold a range of events in Ashton-under-Lyne near Manchester over the week beginning Monday 9 May, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of VE Day. A Home Front Recall grant of just over £3,000 will be used for celebratory activities including a classic 1940s cinema day, a catering competition that highlightscooking and recipes from the 1940s and a VE Day Tea dance. There will also be a special appearance by local music legend Wally Mackenzie and his band who will entertain the crowds with 1940s music.
"We plan to bring together the older members of the community and the younger people so they can interact and celebrate this important anniversary. We hope the experience will give the young ones a better understanding of the hardships and sacrifices made by both those on the Home Front and on the WWII battlefields. It's also an opportunity for the older generation to reminisce and enjoy the celebration in their honour," John Sheridan of Age Concern Tameside Project Organiser said.
Organisations, veterans, widows and widowers who are interested in Home Front Recall or Heroes Return grants for commemoration trips and events marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War should apply before 31 May 2005. Details of the scheme are available by calling 08454 102030.
"As communities gear up to celebrate VE Day, lottery funding from the Home Front Recall scheme will help a special generation participate in the 60th anniversary of those days. Home Front Recall recognises the importance of the sacrifices and contribution made by millions ofpeople who may not have been fighting in the strict sense but were, nonetheless, indispensable. By preserving their memories we will ensure that everyone will have an opportunity to learn from these times and give recognition to home front veterans," Big Lottery Fund North West Regional Manager, Michelle McNamee said.
"The debt we owe to those who participated in the Second World War effort is immense and one that must never be forgotten. I can think of no better way of using Heritage Lottery Fund cash than to help support this tremendous programme, particularly as this year marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. It will preserve and honour the memories and bravery of countless men and women from the North West ensuring that their sacrifice is remembered by future generations,"
Heritage Lottery Fund Regional Manager for the North West, Tony Jones said.
Groups in the North West awarded Home Front Recall grants today are:-
Age Concern Tameside
£3,048 Age Concern Tameside will hold a range of events to commemorate the 60th anniversary of VE Day for the elderly. The events will include a classic 1940s cinema day, a street party, 1940s catering competition and a VE Day Tea dance. These activities will bring together older members of the community so that they can enjoy the occasion and reminisce about the war years.
Minehead Centre Users Group
£3,000 The Minehead Centre Users Group will hold a range of educational activities. These will educate participants about what life was like during the war focusing particularly on the Blitz in Manchester, wartime food and what sacrifices were made.
Combined Ex Service Association
£4,981 The Combined Ex Service Association will use their award to participate in the Weymouth & Portland Military & Veteran Parade and to attend a Remembrance eremony at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Southport Royal Naval Association
£5,000 The Southport branch of the Royal Naval Association has been awarded a grant which will enable them to hold a special reunion for the 60th anniversary of the end of WW2.
Blackpool Merchant Navy Association
£3,720
An award has been made to the Blackpool Merchant Navy Association to allow their members and their grandchildren to undertake a trip to attend a memorial service in Liverpool. Whilst in Liverpool they will visit the Warships Museum in Birkenhead.
Mrs Ogden's Nursery School
£500
An award has been made to Mrs Ogden's Nursery to allow the children to put on a performance of songs of the war time era. The performance will then be followed by a celebratory event. Costumes and props, party food, balloons and entertainer
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The War Widows Association of Great Britain
£20,000
The War Widows Association of Great Britain have been awarded a grant which will allow them to send 5 members from each of their region to a church service in Liverpool. In addition to this their remaining 57 regions will receive an award to allow them to have refreshments at their local church services for those who are unable to attend the service in Liverpool.
Royal British Legion Ellesmere Port Branch
£7,000
The Royal British Legion Ellesmere Port Branch has been awarded a grant to carry out a number of celebration events to commemorate the 60th anniversary of WW2. The will undertake a commemoration service and parade, a children's street party, and a 1940's concert night all of which will be provided with a buffet.
Vauxhall Neighbourhood Playscheme
£9,195
Vauxhall Neighbourhood Play scheme have received an award that will allow them to carry out educational workshops that will research WW2, from this research they will design and produce a mosaic that will reflect the war time period. In addition to this they will also carry out a trip to Eden camp.
Cheshire Regiment Association Ellesmere Port Branch
£5,700
The Ellesmere Port Branch of the Cheshire Regiment Association will take a group of local children on two educational visits to the American WW2 Cemetery at Cambridge and also the Imperial War Museum. They will then visit the school to feedback their experiences to
other children in the school where they will also have a celebration party.
Woodfield Residents Association
£550
The Woodfield Residents Association have received an award to allow them to hold a 1940's style Victory street party. The party will also include music and food of the time. hall hire, food, entertainment and decorations
The Aviation Society
£10,000
The Aviation Society has received an award for an exhibition at Manchester Airport commemorating the No1 Parachute Training School and other various Airborne Forces. It will also carry out a memorial service and a 1940's style street party.
'Johnnie' Johnson Housing Trust
£5,412
The Johnnie Johnson Trust has received an award to put on a VE day celebration event. The day will consist of exhibitions, displays, speakers, food of the time and children in period fancy dress.
Sutton Ex-Servicemen's Village Hall
£1,430
Sutton Ex-Servicemen's Village Hall group in Cheshire will use an award to commemorate
V.E. Day by staging an afternoon exhibition of WW2 items, and an evening dance. The event will be open to members of the local community.
A special Home Front leaflet, which gives details on how to apply for a grant and information on events happening in local areas is available from the Big Lottery Fund Public Enquiries Line 08454 102030. An example of the leaflet and a full list of events can be found on our web site.
Denton Womens Club
£600 The Denton Women's Club have received an award to carry out a 1940's commemorative evening. They will be provided with entertainment such as war songs and monologues. room hire, buffet meal, entertainment, drinks and decorations
Time of Your Life Club
£1,000 The Time of Your Life club in Manchester will use an award to host a 60th anniversary street party, this will include a war-time stylebuffet and music from the 1940's.
The Royal British Legion Leeds District Group
7,250 The Leeds District of the Royal British Legion will use their award to hold a VE and VJ Day 60th anniversary concert which will involve Her Majesty's Royal Marines band.
Blackpool Borough Council
£20,000
Blackpool Borough Council has received an award for an air show in commemoration of the people who lived and worked in Blackpool during the war especially those building and maintaining aircrafts.
Royal British Legion Formby Branch
£600
The Formby Branch of the Royal British Legion have been awarded a grant to provide them with refreshments for their VE and VJ day memorial services. In addition to this they will also use their award to have a community concert where refreshments will also be provided.
Haslingden Splash
£2,390
This group will use their award to compile and produce a booklet that will consist of poems and stories telling stories of their experiences on the home front during Second World War. The books will be distributed amongst schools and youth clubs as well the general public.
British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association Blackpool and Fylde Branch
£1,010
The Blackpool and Fylde Branch of the British Limbless Ex-servicemen's Association have been awarded a grant that will allow to carry out a commemorative lunch for their members. food and drink (£850) and transport from Blackpool
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