Corby, Kettering, Rushden and Wellingborough bringing out the bunting for stay at home celebrations for VE Day 75

Communities across north Northamptonshire will be recreating the joy of the first VE Day, 75 years on with socially-distanced parties in front gardens up and down the area.

People in streets across towns and villages have been inviting their neighbours to share the bank holiday stay at home anniversay bash.

As well as music and food, the Royal British Legion willl mark the day with special commemorations including a country-wide two-minute silence at 11am.

Corby teaching assisant, Kelly Brawn, who is currently home-schooling her two sons, five-year-old Charlie and Xander, 6, will be using the day to look at the history of the Second World War.

As well as having a tea and scone picnic they will pay tribute to her grandad Robert Charles who was an RAF wireless officer flying in Halifax aircraft.

She said: "We are so proud of him and what he did during the war when he was the 148 Squadron.

"He was recruited to the S. O. E. which means Special Operations Europe as he was one of the fastest morse code senders and receivers in the Royal Air Force.

"He was a wireless operator in the Halifax planes and was never on an aeroplane which dropped a bomb - he dropped partisans to fight.

"He never told his family about his role within the war after signing the official secrets act it was about ten years ago he first started telling us the stories of what he went through.

"As a family we are exceptionally proud and the boys loved their great-grandad and have enjoyed being able to show how proud they are in a window display. Grandad passed away on September 10, 2018."

She added: "We will listen to the broadcast of Churchill's speech and have a street party in the garden."

At 10.30am at the war memorial in Corby Old Village, four members of Corby Royal British Legion will take part in a brief socially-distanced service of remembrance led by Rev Paul Frost, followed by a wreath laying.

Gareth Price, Corby branch chairman, said: "It is important to mark the day but it also important to stay safe.

"We hope to play the Last Post and then keep a two-minute silence, I am hoping that we can film the event and share it on Facebook so everyone can join in.

"We are not encouraging anyone to come down to the ceremony but to watch it later."

In Little Lane, Wollaston resident Gill Swinden is leading the celebrations as their community marks the day

She said: " We will be putting up decorations, having picnics on our drives and at 11am we are doing a minute silence.

"My Dad, who is 95, will be wearing his medals. He was part of the Battle of the Atlantic.

"I am very proud and humbled by what my dad and all those involved in WW2 did."

Neighbours in Wellingborough's streets of Oakley Drive, Northampton Road and Third Avenue will all be holding parties.

In Rothwell, singer Barry Hale will be entertaining his fellow Meadow Road residents with a lockdown concert.

He said: "I'll be singing all the wartime favourites including We'll Meet Again and Side by Side and then I'll be doing pure rock and roll classics like Billy Fury and Matt Monro."

Kettering community VE Day celebrations, which were due to take place on the bank holiday weekend now take place online.

Kettering museum and gallery will host a virtual VE Day celebration with free activities, stories of wartime Kettering, ways to connect with the community and the chance to pay tribute to the generations of the Second World War.

The museum and art gallery staff will be posting stories and sharing objects virtually from their current ‘VE 75’ exhibition.

Rochelle Mathieson, head of commercial development at Kettering council, said: "The 75th anniversary of VE Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the enormous sacrifice, courage and determination of people from all walks of life who saw us through this dark and terrifying period.

"Kettering Museum and Gallery have put together an impressive range of free activities to commemorate this, with a local focus that will keep the whole family entertained.”

Cllr Scott Edwards, Kettering council’s portfolio holder for Community and Leisure, said: “We were very disappointed to have to cancel our initial plans to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, but we’re delighted to be able to make sure you don’t miss out.

"Make sure you head to www.thisiskettering.com/VEdayathome for some lockdown entertainment and to learn about a hugely significant event in the country’s history.”

Join in the VE celebrations at on Twitter @KMuseumGallery, Facebook Kettering Museum and Art Gallery or on Instagram @Kettering_Museum_Gallery.

Other town councils are encouraging their communities to take part.

In Raunds, the town council has asked people to decorate their homes red, white and blue and to have a VE Day Picnic at home.

Residents have been busy creating posters to mark the historic occasion that will be printed into banners to be used on August 15, the town's celebration to mark the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day.

Irthlingborough too has seen its town council-organised VE Day 75th anniversary celebration cancelled due to COVID-19 but people are being asked to join in a 'Stay at Home' street party with residents encouraged to decorate their houses in red, white and blue and enjoy a picnic in their front garden.

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