With plans announced for a national celebration in May of the eightieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War (VE Day), many in the village have been asking - what will Bishop Monkton be doing?

The village has a proud track record of getting involved in major national celebrations and commemorations including Royal Jubilees and also previous VE Day anniversaries. For example, in 2022, six days of events took place in the village to mark the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee and in 2020, during the Covid Pandemic, the seventy-fifth anniversary of VE Day was marked with socially distanced street parties.

For a reminder of how we marked the 2022 Queen's Platinum Jubilee, take a look at the film made by the BM Local History Group - click

Yesterday the Government announced a four day programme of national events from Monday 5th May (Bank Holiday Monday) up to Thursday 8th May (the actual anniversary of the end of war with Germany). These include a military procession in London, poppy installations at the Tower of London and elsewhere around the country, a concert at Westminster Hall and a service at Westminster Abbey. The idea is that street parties might be held around the country on Monday 5th May.

There are also plans to mark the anniversary of VJ Day (the end of the War with Japan) on 15th August with a service at the National Arboretum.

So, should Bishop Monkton get involved? Should there be a street party? There are plenty of people living here with military connections and, that aside, quite a few people still with us with memories of living through the Second World War.

If you have a view on this, do let us know by email