Coronavirus newsletter: VE Day under lockdown

Good evening
Never let it be said that we are not a resourceful lot.

We may be in the second month of lockdown - and about to enter a third - but we are not going to let something like that stop us celebrating a major event.

Before we were overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic, there was a sophisticated plan for how the country would mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day from parades to street parties.

Social distancing has meant that all of that has had to be shelved. And yet, thousands of people have still managed to mark this occasion in their own way - with ‘front garden’ street parties and picnics, bunting, raising a glass to those who gave their lives and singing We’ll Meet Again.

It’s appropriate that the spirit of community which united the country during wartime has been apparent in the past months as we have tackled a new and very different threat to our lives.

A fitting tribute to our heroes then and now would be to ensure we maintain that spirit and do not return to the divisions which almost tore the country apart in the past few years.

Have a look through our live blog from throughout the day to see how folk around the region celebrated VE Day.

Gillian Parkinson

Editor