Many people were expecting to be out and about on Friday enjoying a VE day celebration in Devizes but coronavirus shutdown meant this and many other events had to be cancelled.

But there are plenty of organisations in the town determined to still mark the occasion.

Wiltshire Museum, which supplied some old pictures to the Gazette for this week's paper, is asking people to share their VE day memories to create a better archive of the historic event.

Director David Dawson said: “Before Covid19 took hold staff at Wiltshire Museum were searching the collections to see what material they had relating to VE Day 1945 and the aftermath of World War Two. Sadly, very little was found, a photograph and some newspaper cuttings.

“We are appealing for local information and people’s memories of any VE Day celebrations that took place in Devizes and the local area.”

Mr Dawson wants people to write them down, but not to include original pictures, and send to the museum in Long Street or email to @wiltshiremuseum.org.uk

Darren Worrow who produces the Devizine on-line magazine used pictures supplied by the museum to create a poster for the event being organised by town councillor Jeanette Von Berg.

She was disappointed the main event could not go ahead but has organised a distance street party for Charles Morrison Close where she lives with the help of Sharon Barter.

The town band is to play a medley of Vera Lynn songs including We’ll Meet Again and White Cliffs of Dover for a virtual concert.

Chairman Kelvin Nash scanned music from the band library at the Wyvern Club and sent it to members ready for rehearsals and then a recording was made on Monday. Flautist Jenni Scott is the solo singer.

Mr Nash said: “I will bring everything together and make the video which will be released on VE Day.”