ON May 8, 1945, Winston Churchill addressed the Nation: “I bring you great news. The war in Europe is over. It is finished in the complete and overwhelming triumph of the Allies and has been officially declared at the end by Britain, United States and Russia, speaking with one voice.”

Eighty years on, in May 2025, Ross-on-Wye will celebrate VE Day and then on August 15 the town will commemorate the Victory in the Far East.

It is proposed that VE Day will be celebrated in Ross by trying to capture the spirit and experience of the celebrations that took place on VE Day 1945.

To date plans have been made to hold a VE Day tea dance in St Mary’s Church on Sunday, May 4 where the participants will be joined by Monmouth Big Band and hopefully this will be an opportunity to dress up and ‘swing and jive’ to the sounds of the 1940s.

Full details will be announced shortly, but meanwhile time to find those VE Day outfits.

On Thursday, May 8, as part of the official national events formal celebrations will be held at Hereford Cathedral.

In Ross, a local committed are planning a full programme of VE Day events. Following a formal Flag Raising at the Market House at 9am it is planned to hold a VE Day commemoration event in St Mary’s at 7.30pm.

The theme of this will be the passing of the flame of Remembrance from the older to the younger generation, with suitable audio-visual presentations, music and ceremony.

The event will offer thanksgiving for the selflessness of those who gave up so much in order that future generations should enjoy the blessings of freedom, democracy and peace.

The Town Council will be hosting music and food at the Prospect followed by a spectacular Beacon Lighting ceremony at 9.30pm. Further details to be provided in due course.

To make our celebrations relevant to the town of Ross, organisers are looking for stories from those that celebrated VE Day in 1945.

Do you have a family picture or a story to tell? What happened on VE Day in Ross in 1945 and what happened in the schools?

Committee member Paul Cummings said: “We hope to create a great display in St Mary’s Church and elsewhere. Do you have pictures or stories of those that served in the military or those that served their community in other ways such as the Land Army or the police.“

If you have a story to tell or historical pictures, contact Paul Cummings by email [email protected].

If your group / society would like to participate or conduct research to help tell the tale the committee need to hear from you by February 1 by using the email above.

VE Day was a day that remained in the memory of all those who witnessed it - an end to nearly six years of a war that had cost the lives of millions; had destroyed homes, families, towns and cities.