VJ Day 75th Anniversary celebrations across the borough
Councillors and residents across the borough celebrated VJ Day celebrations across Havering on Saturday. Wreaths were laid across the memorials at 11am in many different parts of the borough.
Harold Wood Councillors Brian Eagling, Darren Wise and Martin Goode along with the Gooshays Councillor Jan Sargent attended the celebrations at the Harold Wood Memorial outside Harold Wood library. Local residents and business owners from both Harold Wood and Harold Hill were in attendance to pay their respects alongside veterans.
Councillor Eagling provided some thoughtful words at the event highlighting some personal family experiences during the war and Councillor Goode laid a wreath on behalf of the Harold Wood Hill Park Residents’ Association.
Carol Lawrence of Harold Wood Funeral Services also laid a wreath at the memorial and Councillor Jan Sargent also laid some flowers on behalf of the Residents of Harold Hill.
In Elm Park Reverend Amanda and Father Tom Keighley gave a short service outside St Nicholas’ church and then a two minute silence was held. Jenny Shaw and her daughter Petra recited the Exhaltation ‘They Shall Never Grow Old.’
Councillor Stephanie Nunn said: “It is important to mark significant dates in our history whilst observing social distancing at the same time.”
Councillors and local residents then attended the Royal British Legion where the Chairman Councillor Mugglestone gave a short address and a wreath was laid by John Watson, the Deputy Chairman.
Two minutes silence was held remembering those who gave their lives.
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As a resident it would have been nice to have known that these events were going to take place beforehand, my family had not heard of any services happening, so we played the last post ( very loudly in our front garden) and held a minute silence at 11am. We were so pleased to see our neighbours come out of their houses and join us. We later held a street gathering and bbq ( all socially distanced) to mark the day.