A special civic service was held yesterday, Thursday 8 May, at Saint Mary on the Sea Church in Grimsby to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
The service was led by the Mayor of the Borough of North East Lincolnshire, Councillor Stephen Beasant, and commemorated the momentous day in 1945 when Allied forces celebrated Germany’s unconditional surrender, bringing World War 2 in Europe to an end.
It was conducted by the Reverend Canon Andrew Cole, Parish Priest and Mayor’s Chaplain.
Dozens attended the service including the Mayoress, local MPs Melanie Onn and Martin Vickers, councillors, veterans, and other dignitaries.
The gathering honoured the bravery and sacrifice of those who served in the armed forces during the war. Wreaths were also laid at local armed forces memorials as a sign of respect and remembrance, and two-minute silences were held outside Grimsby Town Hall and at The Knoll in Cleethorpes.
Across the borough, residents came together to pay tribute through various community events, reflecting on the legacy of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The event formed part of a wider national commemoration, as communities across the UK remembered the generation who brought peace to Europe eighty years ago.
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2020.