HARLOW Council is asking residents to stay at home and celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE Day this Friday (8 May) and over the weekend.

As part of the celebrations a local service will be streamed live on Facebook on Friday.

Residents are being encouraged to decorate their homes red, white and blue and celebration the occasion in their homes, on their doorsteps and in their gardens with the people they live with. There are a number of bunting templates online which can be used including some which can be downloaded from the Council’s Facebook page. Bunting can also be downloaded from www.bbc.co.uk/makeadifference

On Friday a VE Day service and celebration will be streamed live on the Facebook pages of Harlow Council and Harlow Playhouse. The service will start from 10.45am and there will be a two minute silence held at 11am as part of a national moment of reflection and remembrance. The video will include contributions from the Royal British Legion, the Chair of Harlow Council and Harlow Playhouse with the national anthem and conclude with Land Of Hope and Glory. Donations received throughout the day from those watching the video will be ring-fenced to go to the Royal British Legion.

Pictures of households celebrating VE day this weekend can be shared on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using #VEDayHarlow

Other national events on 8 May include:

Two special programmes on BBC One

The ‘Nations’ Toast to the Heroes of World War 2′ at 3pm – A chance to stand at home and raise a glass of refreshment of your choice to toast – “Those who gave so much, we thank you”

A pre-recorded televised address from Her Majesty The Queen at 9pm.

There is a full programme of national celebrations planned for Friday which can be found here: https://www.veday75.org/