Now we’re over Easter, the focus is building on VE Day. Each day seems that something else is being revealed that will happen to mark the event. Despite a campaign, the actual day has not been declared a national holiday, but there is still much to celebrate.

With a late Easter and early May Bank Holiday on the 5th, it was always going to be hard to justify a holiday on the date itself, 8th May. Especially as it’s a Thursday. But no matter, celebrating the ending of the Second World War is an important time for everyone.

National Planned Events

The national commemoration event will take place on May 5th with some 1,300 military personnel marching down the Mall. King Charles and Queen Camilla will host a garden party for veterans at Buckingham Palace. There will also be a flypast of vintage and modern aircraft.

On 6th May the Tower of London will open its doors to the inner bailey where 30,000 of the ceramic poppies used for the Great War commemoration will be used to create another fabulous display.

On VE Day itself there is a service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey. While we have no idea why it was left until the 19th April, pubs and licenced premises will be allowed to stay open to 01.00 BST. Whether this is in part to recreate the spirit of the massive last minute celebrations is uncertain.

Why Celebrate?

2025 is the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe which was declared on 8th following the capitulation of the German forces. After Hitler’s suicide on 30th April, the German generals confirmed there was no point fighting on. With time zone differences, the Russians celebrate Victory Day on 9th May.

If you fought in the war, you will now be in your late 90’s or 100+. This is really the last time for everyone to celebrate with those who fought; and with many alive at the time. It is also a great time to reflect on how the world might have changed and the importance of world peace.

Consider, the starting age for conscription in WW2 was 20. So, men who had been born in 1919 or earlier ie during or before WW1. For men born in the 1920-30’s, average life expectancy was typically to their late fifties. Those still alive today, are now almost double that expectation due to better healthcare and living conditions. How many of us don’t give a second thought to believing we’ll still be alive in our 80’s? We have truly much to celebrate.

Local Planned Events

Across the country there are many planned local events to mark VE Day. A lot will already be supported by colleagues in catering businesses, but it’s not too late to mark the event in the week of the 8th May. After all in 1945, most were spontaneous events with some starting on 7th as news began to reach the UK that the European surrender was imminent.

We shouldn’t forget that this was a world war. It was not until 15th August that there was an armistice in the Far East resulting in VJ Day celebrations. While 2nd September with the formal Japanese surrender actually marks the end of WW2. Yet these dates are often left uncelebrated. If you need time to plan something and can’t do May, why not organise something local for then?

Why is it always called the summer of sport? Especially now, when sport is almost year-round. Gone are the days when the FA Cup Final in May marked the end of the soccer season. Until it restarted in September as a winter game.

Is it perhaps because the UK’s traditional summer sports were more about socialising than athletic sporting prowess? The Epsom Derby kicked off the summer season on the first Saturday in June. Everyone poured out of London to gather on the Surrey downs, regardless of class, to eat drink and spectate.

Summer sport was clearly spectating and catering. And the catering was probably more important, hence Wimbledon strawberries and Henley Pimms, not tennis and rowing. And the best-known phrase about England’s summer sport- cricket teas!

2024’s Summer of Sport

Arguably this year’s summer of sport began with the Giro D’Italia throughout May. Professional cycling continues through the Tour de France in July and the Vuelta D’Espana in August; finishing with the Tour of Britain in September. June and July had the Euros. August is Paris and the Olympics. The Paralympics follows in August and September. By now we’ve all become armchair experts on the minutiae of the many different sports, that we have never done or barely dabbled in.

Why is it that sports events bring people together? It is a bizarre fact that for over a thousand years the Ancient Greeks would stop fighting and come together every 4 years to compete in their Olympics. There is something about the spectacle of the event and our need to support.

This is probably why today so much is raised from sponsoring individual fundraising connected with sport. It’s also why sports clubs see a flood of new participants, who are motivated to take part after the big events. People know that they will never be the elite, but want to give it a go.

AC Services Sporting Request

Like the professionals in mid-September, AC Services Helen will be attempting her own sporting challenge. Not for her the fastest time or longest distance, nor even in an organised event; but because she wishes to give back. She will be cycling 167 miles from the Brunel Museum in London to Bristol Temple Meads Station along the Great Western Way. This 4-day mixture of roads, canals, and cycle tracks, is just right for the scenic cyclist rather than the speedster.

Like many social sportspeople, her journey started many years ago. After the premature death of her mother through heart problems, Helen took up social cycling to increase her own fitness. The two recent deaths of Rational colleagues prompted her to want to do more by raising money for the British Heart Foundation.

If you can help, please go to her justgiving page

Or to find out more about simple things to do for a healthier heart check out this BHF leaflet.

After all what links elite and individual sport is motivation; doing to the best of your ability; and supporting whatever the season! And September must be the last month of any summer of sport.