Castle Point commemorates 80th anniversary of VE Day
Earlier this week, Castle Point Borough Council and Canvey Island Town Council commemorated the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe with a ceremony at the war memorial on Canvey Island, followed by a celebration at The Paddocks Community Centre — an event which saw over 150 people attend.
The celebration saw residents, Council staff and dignitaries come together to commemorate and celebrate the historic milestone, with the newly-refurbished community centre being decorated in Union Flags.
Starting at the war memorial, Mayor of Castle Point Borough Council, Cllr Lynsey McCarthy-Calvert led a ceremony in which several speeches were delivered by dignitaries and prayers were said. The flag was raised by The Mayor of Castle Point Borough Council and The Mayor of Canvey Island Town Council, Cllr Peter May. Two minutes of silence was observed, before attendees made their way into The Feelgood Suite of The Paddocks Community Centre.
Tea and cake was offered to all, with some guests wearing war medals and others dressed in vintage 1940s clothing that helped bring the event to life. Wartime exhibitions were also set up by Rosemary Deboise of the Heritage Centre and David Jeeves, showing fascinating artefacts from the period.
Castle Point Borough Council's own Lucy Parkin delivered a wonderful performance of old war-time songs, dressed in WAFF uniform, that had everyone clapping and singing along.
Pictured left to right: Cllr Sharon Ainsley, Mayor of Canvey Island Town Council Cllr Peter May, Lucy Parkin, Mayor of Castle Point Borough Council Cllr Lynsey McCarthy-Calvert, Cllr Tim Copsey, Cllr Rob Lillis.
In attendance along with the general public:
- Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Essex
- Mrs Julie Fosh, High Sheriff of Essex
- Mayor of Castle Point Borough Council – Cllr Lynsey McCarthy-Calvert
- Mayor of Canvey Island Town Council – Cllr Peter May
- Madam Chair of Rochford District Council – Cllr Sarah-Jane Page
- Vice-Chairman of Rochford Parish Council – Cllr James Edmunds
- Freeman of the Borough – Ray Howard MBE
- Reverend Tania Manegatti – Mayor’s Chaplain
- Reverend Marion Walford
We’d like to extend a massive thank you to all who were involved in arranging the event and running it on the day.
"My dear friends, this is your hour. This is not victory of a party or of any class. It’s a victory of the great British nation as a whole."
– Winston Churchill
