Ashford to commemorate VE Day 80 and VJ Day 80 with SWAN Salute on 5 July
Published: 19/06/2025
To celebrate the 1940s and highlight the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day, South Willesborough and Newtown Community Council (SWANCC) have put together a SWAN Salute to the 1940s event on 5 July, 2025.
The free to attend event takes place at the Newtown Green in Ashford and will feature children’s entertainment, vehicles from the 1940s, a home front exhibition and themed music and dancing.
In addition, a Spitfire fighter plane has been donated to SWANCC for the event and will be on display. The Spitfire is in memory of Flying Officer Raymond Gustave De Hasse RAFVR, who was a Belgian fighter pilot that gave his life protecting our nation in the Second World War.
The Spitfire will be under the care of the RAF Wing Ashford, but attendees are welcome to take photos with the aircraft and get a glimpse inside its legendary cockpit.
The home front exhibition meanwhile will feature Anderson Shelters, with attendees having the chance to learn about their importance during the Blitz, while numerous exhibits from the Ashford Museum and AARA will be on display, including gas masks, replica uniforms, ration cards and much more.
Professional dance acts My Charleston Dancers and The Cinque Port Lindy Hoppers will be in attendance to display dances from the 1940s, while the Five Star Swing Band and The Silhouettes will be providing music from that era on one of the stages.
There will also be a Sir Winston Churchill impersonator on hand to deliver speeches and the Town Crier from Bexhill Hill East Sussex will be compering to the day.
Food vendors will also be out in force at the event and the Ashford Salvation Army will be serving drinks, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own picnics if they’d like and seating will be provided for up to 500 people.
Children are very welcome to the event, with a host of fun, free activities for them, including all day rides on the land train, crafts, activities, three Punch & Judy shows and circus workshops.
To find out more about the event or to look into the possibility of pitching a stall or even displaying a 1940s vehicle of your own, head to the SWANCC website for more information.
