STAY safe and stay at home on VE Day.

That's the message from retired Royal Air Force Air Vice-Marshal Martin Clark, president of the Trowbridge Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Writing on behalf of the Trowbridge branches of the White Ensign Association, the Royal Air Forces Association and the Royal British Legion, Mr Clark said: “75 years ago on May 8, 1945, the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany brought to an end the Second World War in Europe, a war that started on September 1, 1939, with the German invasion of Poland.

“There were many plans made to mark this 75th anniversary of VE Day across the country, but the impact of Covid-19 and its associated social distancing restrictions has caused them all to be cancelled.

“There are ways that we can all still celebrate in our own homes the end of the war in Europe and give thanks for the service and sacrifice of those who died to protect our freedom.

“You may wish to think about taking part in the national moment of reflection and Remembrance at 11am and pause for two minutes silence, joining the Royal British Legion’s VE Day 75 livestream event on their website at 11.15am, having an afternoon tea party at home, listening to extracts from Winston Churchill’s VE Day speech at 3pm, or joining in a UK-wide sing-along to Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again on BBC 1 after the Queen has spoken at 9pm. And there may well be other events to join in with and show our respect.

“But, above all, on this VE Day, I would urge your readers to stay at home and keep safe,” said Air Vice-Marshal Clark, who lives at Southwick, and was appointed Director (Technical) of the Military Aviation Authority on June 18 2012.

“Our freedom gives us the ability to live our lives as we choose, but also the responsibility to look after ourselves, our friends, our community and those essential workers who are, today, engaged on the front-line in the war on coronavirus.

“The war in Europe saw more than 18 million military personnel on both sides of the conflict lose their lives with more than 45 million civilians succumbing to the same fate.

"This truly was the most dreadful of all conflicts.

“Known as Victory in Europe Day – or VE Day – it was a day of celebration and sorrow.

"Celebration that over five years of hardship and loss would be coming to an end, but sorrow that so many sons and daughters would not be able to share in this moment.

“And, of course, there were many thousands of military personnel who were still serving in bitter fighting in the Far East."