THE ORGANISERS of ‘the biggest street party Bromsgrove has ever seen’ to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day say they have been overwhelmed by the response from town centre businesses.
Jules Evans, who came up with the idea, has been out and about this week with postcards to promote the event on Sunday, May 10.
She said: “I received such an incredible reaction from all the traders – some said it was just what the town needed and I had copious offers of help.”
The event received massive boosts in December when Jules was told she would be receiving £9,990 worth of National Lottery funding and Bromsgrove District Council announced there would be free town centre parking throughout the day.
The £30,000 extravaganza which is being led by the Bromsgrove Royal British Legion and backed by the district council, will see the whole High Street and Worcester Road closed from The Strand to the Black Cross.
A recreation of the church service held at Westminster Abbey in 1945 for VE Day has been organised by Churches Together in Bromsgrove and will be led by Rev Ray Khan outside Asda at 10.30am. Churches across the UK will be holding similar services at the same time.
There will be live entertainment in the High Street and Worcester Road from midday, there will be a large cinema screen outside the Golden Cross broadcasting wartime news reals, The Dambusters and The Longest Day.
The music will be from the 1940s and people are urged to ‘party like its 1945’ and dress in clothes from the time.
Bromsgrove charity shops are even holding vintage clothes for people who need something to wear on the day.
Stalls will sell food from countries from around the World which were allied with the UK and people are being urged to bring food to share for a Bromsgrove VE Day Big Lunch as part of the commemorations.
Hair and make-up experts will help people take their images back to the 1940s and the Friends of St John will have their ever-popular photo-booth.
In the run up to the party, the organisers also want to hear from anyone with memories, stories and photographs about the Bromsgrove war years – whether they be veterans who have served, families of veterans, those on the home front and people who helped build planes at Longbridge.
They will be recorded and a magazine is being planned to safeguard all the memories for the future.
Volunteers for the day are also being sought.
Anyone who wants to volunteer, anyone with further ideas and anyone wanting to fund-raise should email [email protected] for more information.
