Elected Member Briefing Note 2025, No. 41
About this Briefing Note
Report by: Lisa Potter, Service Manager - Strategic Communications and Engagement
Date: 10 April 2025
Subject: Events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day
Responsible Officer: Michael Boyle, Events Officer
Details
Purpose
To provide an overview of activity being undertaken to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day in Perth and Kinross. This activity has been co-ordinated through the Council's Events Team and has included involvement from the Civic office, Lieutenancy and the Council's Armed Forces and Veterans Champion.
Briefing Information
What is happening
Thursday 8 May 2025:
- 9am - VE Day 80 Flag raising and wreath laying at the Veteran's Memorial, St John Street, Perth
- 9.30am - VE Day 80 Flag raising and wreath laying at the 51st Highland Division Memorial, North Inch, Perth
- 9pm - commemorative VE Day 80 Beacon lighting at seven locations across Perth and Kinross:
- Balhousie Castle, Perth
- Wellmeadow, Blairgowrie
- Primrose Park, Auchterarder
- MacRosty Park, Crieff
- 14 High Street, Kinross
- Atholl Road, Pitlochry
- Taybridge Drive, Aberfeldy
During each Beacon lighting the Lord Lieutenant/ Depute Lieutenant will introduce the event followed by a piper and bugle, then the Lord Lieutenant/ Depute Lieutenant will narrate the lighting of the Beacon at approximately 9.15pm, followed by a choir performing the Song for VE Day Commonwealth. Each Beacon will remain lit for approximately one hour.
Sunday 11 May 2025:
- Church service: Held at St John's Kirk, Perth between 11am and 12.15pm.
- Street celebration: Across St John Street, King Edward Street, St John's Place and High Street in Perth there will be a display of vintage military vehicles and re-enactors. There will also be performances from Perth and District Pipe Band, Perthshire Brass and The McAndrew Sisters.
Share and get involved
Information on the VE80 events in Perth are being shared across national event websites (the UK Government's VE|VJ Day 80 website; VE80.com), through digital outdoor advertising screens at Barrack Street in Perth (with other sites being pursued), and through our website, email and social media channels, as well as directly via the people involved in organising the events.
Please do share and signpost through your own networks, by mentioning on social media, community newsletter columns, websites and at local events you attend. The simplest place to signpost people to is the events page of this website which will be kept up-to-date with any additional information.
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