Lord Mayor marks 80th anniversary of VE Day at wreath laying ceremony

The Lord Mayor was joined at war memorial in Victoria Gardens by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Ed Anderson, the Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis, and Leeds City Council chief executive, Ed Whiting, Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin together with veterans and guests.

Victory in Europe Day, known as VE Day, marked the unconditional surrender of the German armed forces on May 8 1945, ending nearly six years of fighting in the European theatre of war.

However, fighting in the Far East continued for another three months following VE Day, with Japanese forces surrendering on August 14 1945. The surrender of Japan is known as Victory over Japan Day, or VJ Day.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, said: “The Second World War was the costliest conflict in human history, fought to defend the freedoms that we still enjoy today. 

 “It was therefore my honour to lay a wreath in remembrance of all the sacrifices made by the people of many nations who worked and fought together against tyranny.”

The culmination of the anniversary in Leeds will see the Lord Mayor host a special civic event to mark both VE and VJ Day at Leeds Minster on Saturday evening (May 10).

The civic event will be especially poignant, as the Lord Mayor will present 101-year-old Jack Mortimer, one of the last surviving veterans of D-Day, with the Leeds Award.

The Leeds Award formally recognises the achievement of people who have made an enormous contribution to the city, with their names proudly displayed on the wall in the antechamber of Leeds Civic Hall.

Guests invited to the civic event include royal representatives and civic leaders from across West Yorkshire, along with diplomats and ambassadors.

 The event will feature orchestral, choir, and bagpipe performances, contemporary songs of the war era, and personal stories of Leeds people who contributed to the victory.

A limited number of tickets for the event which takes place at 7:30pm on May 10 at Leeds Minster, are still available. Tickets are £5 with all proceeds being donated to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal; however, concessions are available. You can book your ticket by visiting: https://www.leedstickethub.co.uk/whatson-event/80th-anniversary-of-ve-vj-day-commemoration-concert/