Huntingdonshire is preparing to join in with celebrations of the 70th anniversary of VE day.

Tomorrow (Friday, May 8) marks 70 years to the day that peace broke out in Europe after nearly six years of the Second World War.

Here we list some of the events being held to commemorate the historic occasion and remember those who were killed:

ST IVES

St Ives Town Council, in partnership with the St Ives (Hunts) and District Royal British Legion, will be commemorating the 70th anniversary of VE Day at 3pm tomorrow (Friday, May 8) at the town’s Cross of Sacrifice.

It is planned to coincide with the exact time and date that Sir Winston Churchill made his famous victory speech to the nation in 1945. All are welcome to attend.

HUNTINGDON

Huntingdon will be joining hundreds of other towns and cities across the UK by holding a beacon lighting event on tomorrow (Friday, May 8).

Marking the 70th anniversary of VE Day, mayor Bill Hensley will be lighting the special beacon in Market Square. The beacon will be lit at precisely 9.32pm, the exact time victory in Europe was declared in 1945. A fanfare will be played and there will be a reading from a representative of the Royal British Legion before the beacon is lit.

The mayor will also lay a wreath at the Thinking Soldier War Memorial.

Anyone wanting to attend should congregate at Market Square for 9.15pm. Light refreshments will be available in the town hall afterwards.The square will be closed to traffic from 4.30–10.30pm.

ST NEOTS

A beacon will also be lit in St Neots.

Members of the town’s branch of the Royal British Legion are to gather on Regatta Meadow from 9pm tomorrow (Friday, May 8). There will be a display of military vehicles and a bugler will play The Last Post as the beacon is lit at 9.32pm, marking exactly 70 years since Victory in Europe was declared in 1945.

ST NEOTS

An indoor street party is being held at the Church Walk Day Centre, Church Walk, St Neots, on Saturday (May 9).

The free event, being held from 12.30-5pm, is set to include musical entertainment from The Merrymakers and wartime party food such as Spam sandwiches and jelly.

Organised by St Neots Timebank and supported by Cambridgeshire County Council, transport can be arranged for anyone with mobility problems.

All welcome, particularly elderly people, but booking is essential. Call 01480 404184.

RAMSEY

Ramsey Rural Museum will be holding a 1940s’-style village fete on Sunday (May 10) to commemorate VE Day.

The celebrations will centre around Darlow’s farm cottage, in the grounds of the museum.

The 1930s’ building would have been flooded by the Great Fen Project where it stood, close to Ramsey St Mary’s, so was donated to the museum. It had to be dismantled brick by brick, then rebuilt.

There will be a film show and a photographic exhibition depicting Ramsey in the 1940s, as well as Second World War displays and memorabilia, including the Pathfinder collection, which tells of the target-marking bomber squadron based at RAF Wyton.

A 1940s’ tea room will be selling refreshments and visitors can also enjoy horse-and-cart trips around the museum grounds.

Chairman of the museum, Terry Heslist, said: “Our aim is to make the museum hands-on and friendly for children, so please bring them along and let us know how we’re doing.”