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Photo/film opportunity: We will be marking the 60th anniversary of VE day between 2pm-5.30pm on Sunday 8 May, with a number of events in the town centre including a veterans parade, rededication of the Haverhill War Memorial as well as the Haverhill Silver Band, VE day exhibitions and wartime vehicles on the Market Square.

Veterans from across the borough, their families and local residents are invited to come and join us in the 60th anniversary celebrations of Victory in Europe (VE) Day in Haverhill on Sunday 8 May, which will be marked by a parade through the town and rededication of the Haverhill War Memorial.

Just as VE day was celebrated by the young and old in 1945, St Edmundsbury is inviting everyone to come and take part in the events on 8 May, by coming along to watch the parade, rededication service and later on enjoy the entertainment on the Market Square.

We’d also like to hear from World War Two veterans who would like to join us in the parade, or maybe you were one of the thousands of people who took part in the original celebrations in 1945? If so, please send us your memories and photos and we’ll publish them on our website. Please send them to the address below.

The celebrations start at 2pm with a military band leading a procession of civic dignitaries, veterans, military jeeps, troop units, air and sea cadets from the Arts Centre to the cemetery off Withersfield Road for a public service led by the Reverend Edmund Betts for the rededication of the War Memorial.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council has spent £20,000 refurbishing the memorial which contains over 150 names of those who died in the first and second World Wars. All of these names are now engraved into the stone plaques, made from granite, which until now had been painted or inscribed into the monument and have faded over time. Veterans, the Mayor of St Edmundsbury and the Mayor of Haverhill with other civic dignitaries and invited guests will then lay wreaths at the monument before parading back through town to take part in a service at St Mary’s Church at 3.45pm.

Everyone is welcome to come along. Why not bring the family and a picnic to the Market Square to mingle with those who served in the second World War, listen to the sounds of the Haverhill Silver Band, get close to some real wartime vehicles or find out more about VE day from the exhibitions. Refreshments will also be available. To find out more about the day please contact Robin Crowther on 01284 757658, email robin.crowther@stedsbc.gov.uk.

Got some memories you’d like to share with us? Send them to Jenny Bradin at the Borough Offices, Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1XB, telephone 01284 757135 or email jenny.bradin@stedsbc.gov.uk. More details about the day, along with memorabilia from VE day in 1945 will be published on our website (www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk) over the coming weeks.

ISSUED BY MARIA STAFF, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033. maria.staff@stedsbc.gov.uk