VE Day 80th anniversary events in North Devon and Torridge

Communities across North Devon and Torridge are gearing up to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day and the end of World War Two in Europe with a range of events and celebrations.

Bells rang out on Tuesday, May 8, 1945 following the unconditional surrender of Germany and bringing to and end the war in Europe after five years of conflict that claimed tens of millions of lives.

While the war with Japan continued until VJ Day on August 15, 1945, VE Day in Europe sparked mass celebrations as nations rejoiced at liberation from tyranny and the unending toil of years of war.

Eight decades later, the 80th anniversary will be marked with events right across the UK and Europe, with most towns and parishes in North Devon and Torridge hosting various celebrations from street parties to music and lighting beacons.

The North Devon Gazette has collated some of the main events, but in case we’ve missed yours, please do email us the details at newsdesk@northdevongazette.co.uk or post on our Facebook page and we will add them to our online listing.

Barnstaple has plenty going on over several days, starting with a flag raising ceremony at Rock Park on Thursday, May 8 at 9am.

From the Thursday to Saturday there will be free showings of a new commemorative film about WW2 and North Devon, VE 80 craft activities and historical talks at Barnstaple Pannier Market.

The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon has a VE Day 80- commemorative display running from Thursday to Saturday, entry is free and it is an opportunity to discover more about the town during WW2 with a variety of pictures and artefacts.

Above: A VE Day street party at Belle Meadow in Barnstaple on May 8, 1945. Credit: Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

The museum will be hosting a day of VE Day celebrations on Saturday (May 10) from 10am to 4.30pm, with free drop-in children’s art and craft activities (10am-12pm and 1-3pm), period vehicles outside the Museum on The Square (tbc), bunting throughout the museum hand-crafted by volunteers, plus traditional treats and cream teas for sale in Bromley’s Tearoom.

Various events and exhibitions and a cream tea dance are expected around the museum and Queen Anne’s Café on The Strand.

At Barnstaple Pannier Market on Sunday, May 11 the Veterans Charity is hosting a day of entertainment, living history groups, period vehicles and displays, games and interactive activities, food vendors, a cash bar, dancing and much more.

The VE80 Festival will be the finale of several days of commemoration and celebration across Barnstaple, starting on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, May 8.

As part of that, a VE Day Street Party is also taking place inside the market from 12noon to 2pm, with the market decorated especially for the occasion,

People are invited to bring their own foods but crockery and cutlery will be provided. The aim is to create a ‘traditional British street party’ and there will be live music and entertainment during the event.

There will be two punch and Judy shows plus magic from local performer Dave Hendy.

South Molton has a day of events around the town on VE Day itself, starting with a flag raising at the Pannier Market at 9am.

The market stays central to events through the day, including a special VE Day Market with raffle and live music from 8.30am to 1pm, plus at 2.30pm a plaque will be unveiled honouring all who served and died for their country. It will be unveiled by Paddy King-Fretts and the Mayor, Jacqui Footman, together with choir performances by local schools.

The South Molton Assembly Rooms are hosting Tommy Tea form 1.30-5pm. An afternoon of 1940s nostalgia with live artists, dancing, raffle and cream teas. Free entry, donations welcome. Dressing up is encouraged!

At South Molton Community College from 5.30-8pm there will be food and music with The Singing Ringers and Barnstaple Ladies Choir plus a performance by college students.

The town church bells will ring out at 6.30pm and a beacon will be lit in the town Square at 9.30pm.

Ilfracombe Town Council is hosting a shared moment of celebration and reflection to look back on the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday, May 8. People are invited to gather from 10.50am for an 11am start on the Clapping Circle on the seafront.

In Bratton Fleming on Sunday, May 4, the new Bishop of Exeter, the Right Reverend Mike Harrison will lead a service at St Peter’s Church. At 11am, he will bless a Cascade of Poppies, a display created by crafters from the village and around the world.

The cascade will be a central feature of the village VE80 Commemoration on Thursday, May 8. On the day itself, St Peter’s Church will host a Memories Exhibition, showcasing wartime recollections, photos and excerpts from A Schoolgirl’s War by Mary Smith. The Thursday Café in the Village Hall will extend its hours from 2–5pm, offering special refreshments and war-era songs.

The evening will feature bell ringing, a 7pm concert by The Jubilee Singers and the lighting of Bratton Fleming’s Lamp of Peace at 9.30pm.

Combe Martin Parish Council is encouraging villagers to decorate their house with flags and bunting from the weekend of May 3. A ‘best dressed house’ competition will run for the duration, judged by a local veteran. The council will also be unveiling a Royal British Legion ‘Unknown Tommy’ statue, courtesy of a donation.

In Bideford, the town council will be hosting VE Day celebrations at the Pollyfield Centre on Thursday, May 8 from 6.30pm, leading up to the lighting of a beacon at 9.30pm.

The bells of St Mary’s Church will ring out to kick things off, while at the Pollyfield Bideford Youth Pipe Band will play, with performances from Tamsin Ball plus Bideford Town Band playing music from the 1940s. 

At 9pm the Town Crier will read out a proclamation, followed by the reading of the names of the fallen from the Borough of Bideford Roll of Honour 1939–1945. 

After the beacon is lit a tribute will be read, followed by the band and Tamsin leading a rendition of ‘I Vow to Thee My Country’.

There will be a buffet during the evening and CMC Productions will also provide musical support.

Great Torrington Town Council is hosting a VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, May 10 at the Town Hall and Pannier Market.

There will be free dance workshops at the hall with Step into Swingtime at 1-2.30pm (swing jive) and 3.30-5pm (Linfy hop).

That should help the feet move freely for the live 1940s music from 5.30-9pm in the Pannier Market with The Hummingbirds and Torrington Silver Band, plus there will be street food, stalls and a beacon lighting at 9.30pm.

Northam May Fair on Saturday, May 3 is VE Day-themed and the fancy dress competition for ages three to 16 will see plenty of 1940s attire.

Holsworthy Town Council is also hosting a day of VE Day celebrations on May 8, with a 9am proclamation and flag-raising outside St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church, followed by an Act of Remembrance at the Tree Memorial in Stanhope Park at 11am.

A Street Celebration is being held in the Square from 5.30pm with a ‘free’ fish supper and family entertainment, before a tribute is read at 9pm and a beacon will be lit.

Meanwhile, a three-show production called Let’s Celebrate has been created by Holsworthy Amateur Theatrical Society and will play at their venue in Bodmin Street at 7.30pm each night on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

It is a lively show with a cast of more than 40 people, with ages ranging from eight to the mid 70s and reflects the life and times of Holsworthy folk who lived through the war years.

Tickets are available from www.holsworthytheatre.co.uk or Ticketsource on 0333 666 3366.

Buckland Brewer is staging a VE Day Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 10 at the village playing field from 2-6pm, with 1940s and wartime dress greatly encouraged! There will be games, stalls and activities plus food and a bar.

The Buckland Brewer History Group is also curating memories and memorabilia from parishioners of WW2. The collection will be exhibited in the Parish Church from May 1 until May 19 and the church will be open daily between 10 am and 4pm and until 7pm on VE Day, when the History Group will be in attendance all day.

Once the exhibition has been dismantled the group proposes to create a permanent exhibition space in the church to honour the contribution Buckland Brewer people have made to all global conflicts.

If you have items that commemorate a person, civilian or military, or an event, relating to Buckland Brewer during the time of war and you would like it to form part of the permanent display, get in touch via the group website at https://bucklandbrewerhistorygroup.wordpress.com

Ashreigney is hosting a barbecue with free entry in the village on Thursday, May 8 from 7.30pm. A bar and hit drinks will be available plus a beacon will be lit at 9.30pm, a short display of low noise fireworks will conclude the event. The venue will be clearly signposted but an approximate postcode is EX18 7NE.

A British-themed Sunday roast with beef or nut roast, all the trimmings and spotted dick, trifle or apple crumble for afters will be held on Sunday, May 11 from 12.30 for 1pm. The Singing Ringers will perform during the afternoon and there will be a tombola.

Tickets (£15 adult) and more information are available from Katherine Cole by emailing ashreigneyparishcouncil@mail.com or call 07817 230815. All proceeds from both events will be donated to SSAFA (The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen Families Association) and the Ashreigney Village Hall Restoration Fund.

Keep up to date with more VE Day 80 events in Torridge via https://www.torridge.gov.uk/veday80/localevents

North Devon’s events listing can be found on the district council website at https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/council/ve-and-vj-day-celebrations-2025

If we’ve missed out your VE Day event, please email us at newsdesk@northdevongazette.co.uk and we’ll add it to our online listing.