PEOPLE came together – even when forced apart by lockdown – to remember the end of war in Europe and mark 75 years since VE Day.

Despite swathes of events being cancelled communities found ways to come together to pay tribute to those who served in the era-defining global conflict.

The Queen said the message of VE Day was “never give up, never despair” and the day began with a national two-minute silence at 11am .

As the RAF’s Red Arrows roared over parts of the UK, in a flypast to mark the anniversary, the Keat and Davis families of Wakefield Place in Sutton Benger created their own Red Arrows fly past up the drainpipe of the house.

Passers by in Great Bedwyn’s Church Street were treated to a front yard VE Day reconstruction by Tim Perry, who creates a display every year.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing soldiers from when I was a small boy,” said Tim.

“I had aeroplanes hanging from my ceiling then. Now I have got a 1944 Willys Jeep, and a motorbike – supposed to be a Harley Davidson but is actually a Yamaha Virago. I made the cafe out of plywood and pallets.

“I’ve been doing this for eight years and think it's important to remember the role this area played in the war with the ammunition dump in Savernake, and the101st Airbourne here and in Ramsbury.”

His display inspired budding 11-year-old photographer Madison Kirkup to take some great pictures.

The Ogbourne St George community whiteboard – set up for people to leave messages for each – saw VE Day messages posted on it, and Claire Lintern didn’t want her horse, Pete, in Stanton St Bernard, to miss out, so she clipped a VE on his hind quarter.

After the Queen’s speech there was Dame Vera Lynn’s singalong We’ll Meet Again, now a symbol of hope during the pandemic.