A CULTURAL trust is inviting Hampshire residents to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

A number of initiatives will be run by Hampshire Cultural Trust on May 8 to mark the anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) – the victory for Europe over Germany during the Second World War.

The trust, which manages and supports 23 arts and museums attractions across Hampshire, will host a range of VE Day themed activities on its digital publication, Culture on Call.

In Hampshire Remembers, visitors to www.cultureoncall.com will be able to explore VE Day through  real life testimonies from Hampshire residents who experienced World War II and VE Day first hand.

A VE Day street party gallery will be available to view, with images from a number of archives showing residents from Basingstoke, Fareham and Eastleigh celebrating the end of the war on and after VE Day. A number of activities for children will also be available.The virtual VE Day commemorations have been put together by the trust’s team.

The news comes as all Hampshire Cultural Trust venues were closed in March in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19.

The trust said venues are likely to remain closed until May 31.

Chief executive Paul Sapwell, said: “The commemoration of VE Day 75 was very firmly on the programme of events at our venues this May. Whilst we have been unable to run these events due to the lockdown, we have brought together a moving and powerful online commemoration on Culture on Call, with some incredible insights into the way that VE Day was celebrated across the county on 8 May 1945.”

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