NAILSEA
PEOPLE
VE Day May 2025
We love to publish your images
Email photographs to nailseapeople@gmail.com
Gallery 2025
At the end of the day
80th anniversary of VE Day May 2025
MORNING PROCLAMATION: Nailsea town councillors and staff at the flagpole outside Iceland on Station Road side. With others they raised a flag to pay respect to the fallen with a reading of the VEW Day 80 proclamation by councillor James Tonkin, who spoke on behalf of newly elected chairman Rod Lees The special flag was raised by Trudy Hollow, manager of No 65 High Street followed by a minute silence for thought and reflection and the sounding of the last post by Andrew Jackson. You can watch full service here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcAat_9tIws
EVENING SERVICE: VE Day beacon lighting at Holy Trinity church. Photos by Phil Williams, Lesley Bowman and Alison Pemble
PELICAN PEOPLE: At work in Nailsea on VE Day and below North Somerset MP Sadik Al-Hassan joins those remembering at Argentum Lodge
There were joyful scenes at the Argentum Lodge care home in Nailsea, as the residents and their caring team came together to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a garden party, live 1940s music and a visit from North Somerset MP Sadik Al Hassan.
More than half (37) of Argentum Lodge’s 56 residents were alive when VE Day was declared on 8 May 1945 and 15 residents, who will have been 10 years or older at the time, have clear memories of the day 80 years ago that finally marked the end of fighting in Europe in WW2.
In preparation for the day residents made flags, bunting and memorabilia to decorate the home and gardens, and the catering team provided cupcakes, Pimms and homemade lemonade.
During the party residents were treated to a performance by the D-Day Dollies, a 1940s themed duo who perform wartime classics, including songs by Dame Vera Lynn and Judy Garland.
The residents sang and danced along to the soundtrack of a unique generation as they celebrated, while commemorating and remembering those who didn’t make it home. Argentum Lodge home manager Jessica Hawker said: “We had a wonderful day celebrating this incredible anniversary with our residents, many of whom had poignant memories of the war years and the sacrifices made by their parents and their generation.
All our memories
@It was a privilege to be with them as they reminisced and shared their stories with a captive audience of both the young and old.”
@Argentum Lodge provides residential, nursing and dementia care for up to 56 residents.
The home was purpose-built to ensure it meets the individual needs of all residents. Ideally located near local amenities the home provides ensuite facilities in all its rooms and exceptional care to its residents.
To learn more go to https://argentumlodge.com
WARTIME MEMORY LANE: Retired Nailsea couple Vera, a former district nurse, and David Clay talk about their early memories of VE Day on the Nailsea Town Council website here: