National Memorial Arboretum hosts VE Day 80th events for veterans

Britain’s oldest surviving World War Two veteran and one of the country’s oldest living couples were among dozens who marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day at the National Memorial Arboretum.

Up to 46 veterans and their families attended the memorial event in Alrewas, Staffordshire, as a service and tea party were held in their honour.

D-Day veteran Donald Rose, who celebrated his 110th birthday on Christmas Eve, was one of those at the event.

He was attached to the division that liberated the concentration camp in Belsen, Germany, and had been unable to take part in celebrations on 8 May 1845.

“When I heard that the armistice had been signed 80 years ago, I was in Germany at Belsen and like most active soldiers, I didn’t get to celebrate at that time,” he said.

Upon hearing the news the war had ended in Europe, he said it came as a “relief” to him and his fellow soldiers.

“I never would have believed I would be remembering this day at 110-years-old,” he explained.

“It’s meaningful to come here today with the Royal British Legion, to remember the people who didn’t come back.”

Also attending the event were Roy Lawrence, 100, and his wife Kathleen, 101, who both served in the RAF during World War Two, from 1942 to 1945.

Mr Lawrence was a flight engineer on a Lancaster bomber, while Mrs Lawrence was working in a factory before joining the WRAF in 1941, serving in communications.

Asked why it was important that people remember the sacrifices made, Mr Lawrence said: “It’s very difficult. I remember those days and I remember the people, not by name because there were so many of them, that got killed.

“The present day need to remember that had it not been for them, we’d have all been speaking German.”

A two-minute silence was held at the memorial at midday before the tea party and commemoration service, organised by the Royal British Legion, took place in the afternoon.