In addition to the Arboretum's The Year Was 1945... programme of exhibitions and trails, a live programme of music from the 1940s era will be performed from 10am in Heroes' Square, as a fitting precursor to the service. Our Second World War-era costumed performers will get you into the tea party spirit, and there'll be toe-tapping performances from visitor favourites the Heath Belles and D-Day Darlings in Heroes’ Square.
You’ll also be able to enjoy 1945 inspired treats in the Restaurant or explore one of four new exhibitions including the immersive VE Day Street Party at Cherry Tree Road.
The RBL Commemorative Service hosted by Baroness Floella Benjamin will commence at 4pm on the Naval Review. The service will feature moving performances from singers Russell Watson, Carly Paoli and Anthonia Edwards, winner of The Voice UK, and the British Army Band, Tidworth.
The Arboretum will be open to the public as normal on Thursday 8 May, and everyone is welcome. Seating for members of the public will be made available on a first come first served basis in the service area, the service will also be streamed into Heroes' Square. We anticipate that the Arboretum will be busier than normal on this day and therefore it is highly recommended that you book your parking in advance online to guarantee entry. In the event that our parking tickets sell out, only visitors able to present a valid parking booking will be permitted to park at the Arboretum.
Prior to the service, the Royal British Legion will be welcoming eligible veterans and their families to a private VE Day Tea Party. In January, the Royal British Legion issued an invitation for Second World War veterans and their families to register to get involved in VE and VJ 80th anniversary events.
Registrations to join the RBL 80th anniversary events have now closed. The RBL team will be in touch to let you know the outcome of your application by Thursday 10 April.
We are committed to ensuring that the Arboretum remains a welcoming place for everyone. Further information about how we can support visitors with additional requirements can be found here.
The Remembering VE Day - 80 Years On service will be BSL interpreted, audio described and live captioned. You can learn more about the different types of performance delivery in the FAQs below. If you are a visitor who plans specifically to benefit from this interpreted content please do contact our team in advance by emailing info@thenma.org.uk or phone 01283 245 100 so that we can support your experience.
Leap into the past and discover more about the year that was 1945. We will be marking the anniversaries of important events and sharing stories of those who lived 80 years ago with exhibitions, tours and trails.
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