Haslemere will mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a free community event on Lion Green from 3pm to 9pm on Saturday, May 10. The event, sponsored by Haslemere Town Council, Haslemere Events, the Shottermill Great War Memorial Trust, and the Haslemere Festival, promises to be a celebration of history, music, and community spirit.

The highlight of the day will be a full-sized replica Spitfire, alongside a range of World War II military vehicles. A series of stages and marquees will host entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening, including performances by the Rhythm & Groove Big Band, the Music Works Choir, Blue Ray swing/jazz band, singer Sarah Prescott, and a local Ukulele Band.

In addition to the musical line-up, visitors can enjoy talks at a dedicated marquee, offering insights into the wartime period. The event will be officially opened by the Mayor of Haslemere and His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Surrey at 3pm.

To set the tone for the occasion, lampposts across the town will be decorated with Commonwealth flags, and local businesses will showcase VE Day-inspired window displays. Schools in Haslemere are contributing by creating poppies for two giant wreaths, which will be displayed at St Christopher’s Church.

Haslemere has deep wartime connections: around 2,000 children were evacuated from London to the area in September 1939, with the majority finding accommodation within 10 km of the town. In 1942, a British Restaurant opened in Wey Hill for those bombed out of their homes. Though Haslemere sustained limited damage, it was affected by crashes, including a V-1 flying bomb near Three Gates Lane in 1944.

All proceeds from the event will go to the Royal British Legion. For those interested in volunteering on the day, please contact event organiser Ken Griffiths at [email protected].