VE Day 80 Events
Legend
Organiser: Ashford Borough Council
Event: Raising of the VE Day 80 Flag. The Mayor of Ashford, together with the Mayors Chaplain, Rev. Cathie Aldis-Saunders, will lead a short service to include the raising of the specially designed VE Day 80 flag and reading of the VE Day 80 Proclamation.
Location: Civic Centre, Tannery Lane, Ashford, TN23 1PL
Date/Time: 8 May, 9am
Organiser: Ashford Borough Council
Event: VE Day 80 Lighting of the Ashford Civic Memorial Beacon and the reading of the VE Day 80 Tribute.
Location: Civic Park, Tannery Lane, Ashford, TN24 8DN
Date/Time: 8 May, 9.30pm
Organiser: Ashford Borough Council
Event: The Mayor of Ashford’s Charity Ball with dancing to ‘The Big Sound Collective’. The Mayor of Ashford’s Charity Ball Price includes 2 course meal. To book contact Lousie Aistrup on Louise.Aistrup@ashford.gov.uk or Phone: 01233 330317.
Location: Ashford International Hotel, Simone Weil Avenue, Ashford TN24 8UX
Date/Time: 10 May, 6.30pm
Contact details: Louise.Aistrup@ashford.gov.uk
Organiser: Great Chart with Singleton Parish Council
Event: A Lamp Lights of Peace parade from the Village Hall to the War Memorial
Location: Great Chart Village Hall, Ashford, TN23 5LB
Date/Time: 8 May, 8pm-10pm
Organiser: Charing Fete Committee
Event: Charing Fete VE Day 80th anniversary, so much more than a village fete. There’s live music ranging from local school choirs and wartime swing through to party music including food vans, fun dog show and beer tent plus all the traditional fete stalls you'd expect.
Location: Clewards Meadow, Market Pl, Charing, Ashford TN27 0LR
Date/Time: 10 May, 12-9.30pm
Contact details: cpclerk@charingkent.org
Organiser: Tenterden Town Council
Event: A Shared Moment of Celebration: Lighting of the Beacon
At 8.30pm, Churches Together will host a Service of Thanksgiving. Following this, wartime and military music will be played, leading up to the Lighting of the Town Beacon by the Freemen and Freewoman of Tenterden. The Town Mayor, Councillor Sue Ferguson, will read the International Tribute, with prayers led by ministers from St Mildred's Church.
Location: Tenterden Recreation Ground, Recreation Ground Road, Tenterden, TN30 6RA
Date/Time: 8 May 2025, 8.30pm-10.00pm
Contact details: townhall@tenterdentowncouncil.gov.uk, 01580 762271
Organiser: Woodchurch Remembers
Event: At 8.30pm a wreath will be laid at the War Memorial and then proceed to the Green where Woodchurch Remembers will lead a Sunset Ceremony and the lighting of the Woodchurch Beacon.
Location: The Green Woodchurch, TN26 3PA
Date/Time: 8 May 2025, 8.30pm
Contact details: enquiries@woodchurchhub.uk, 01233 861381
Organiser: Chilmington Archaeology & History Research Group
Event: Discover Chilmington’s Wartime Secrets
A pop-up exhibition on 8 May 2025 at the Ashford Gateway Plus, that delves into Chilmington’s hidden wartime history. Local volunteers have uncovered moving stories and hidden history about Chilmington during the war. A wonderful day of local heritage, stories, and wartime memories – perfect for all ages.
Location: Ashford Gateway Plus, Church Road, Ashford, TN23 1AS
Date/Time: 8 May, 10.30am-4.00pm
Contact details: chilmington@aocarchaeology.com
