Killyleagh to host events on 75th anniversary of VE Day

Killyleagh to host events on 75th anniversary of VE Day

19 February 2020

KILLYLEAGH’S programme of events to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War has received a significant boost.

The cross-community programme has been singled out as one of the leading events in the UK to mark VE Day 75 this May.

Killyleagh has made the headlines on the national VE Day Welcome page www.veday75.org The main focus of the Killyleagh VE 75 celebrations will be over the weekend of May 8-10.

On Friday, May 8, which has already been designated as a public holiday in the UK, the organisers plan to hold a free street party for the children of the two local primary schools, Killyleagh Integrated and St Mary’s.

Also that weekend there will be an interdenominational religious service and Tribute to the Millions event on the Sunday evening, while the Royal British Legion in Killyleagh are organising a nation’s toast when glasses are raised in local pubs at the exact time that Winston Churchill announced an end to war.

Before that the first big event will be next week, on Friday, February 28, when a medals and memories day will be held in the Lecture Hall in Irish Street from 10am to 4pm.

Families of soldiers who served in the Second World War are asked to bring along photos and medals, and share their memories.

“One of our members, Ann Fee, came up with the idea of appealing for as many wedding day photos as we can gather of the English, Scottish and Welsh soldiers who were based in Shrigley and Killyleagh, many of whom stayed, and of course wedding day photos of the local soldiers who served,’” explained Chris Hagan, from the Killyleagh Remembers the War group.

“So we would like people to bring them along next Friday so we can copy them and film them, and for relatives to tell us the family stories.

“Many of these soldiers stayed and made a big impact on Killyleagh and Shrigley, and of course their families are still here today — they include George Passey, Frank Healy, Maurice `Chico’ Owens, Alex Wilson, Peter Brown and Wilmar Roberts.

We also want to hear from the families of the local soldiers, sailors and airmen who served from 1939 to 1945, including the 21 local men who made the ultimate sacrifice.’’

The aim is to film and copy the photographs, and reproduce them in a film which everyone in Killyleagh can come to view when it is shown on Remembrance weekend. With support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, it will preserve stories from the time for posterity.

Anyone with photos from the period is asked to bring them along on the day or to make contact with Zena McAllister, Ann Fee, Austy Cheevers, Billy Croskery or Chris Hagan.

The film will also focus on the remarkable life story of Martin `Tina’ Charters, the last Killyleagh veteran from the Second World War still living in the town.

It is also hoped to take in the life stories of the Jews, led by the Utitz and Weininger families, who fled Hitler’s purge of Europe and established a leather making factory at Shrigley as well as handbag manufacturing in Killyleagh; the children who arrived in Killyleagh following the Belfast blitz; and the people now in their 80s and 90s who witnessed the peace celebrations in Killyleagh in 1945.

The group is also planning a display of World War Two and military vehicles, with schools competitions, history talks by Dr Eamon Phoenix and Richard Parkinson and a newly designed Second World War walking trail of Killyleagh looking at the landmark buildings which played a role in the home front of the war.

A free bus trip to Dublin is also being planned.

The groups taking part include the Sloane’s history group, the Killyleagh Family History Society, the Killyleagh and Killinchy RBL and Killyleagh Youth Association.