Service at Norwich Cathedral to mark VE Day 80th anniversary
It will be led by Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, and will involve the sharing of wartime memories
A commemoration service to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day is taking place at Norwich Cathedral, today.
It's taking place from 3.30pm and will feature World Two Veterans and a rendition of the wartime song We’ll Gather Lilacs, sung by Norwich Cathedral Choir.
It will be led by Bishop of Norwich, Graham Usher, and will involve the sharing of wartime memories.
"It's a good reminder for us to take a step back"
Aidan Platten is Canon Precentor at the Cathedral:
"This is one of the final opportunities we get to say a huge thank you to those who died in World War Two and others who gave up so much at home to fight for freedom on our behalf.
"I think it's a really good reminder when we think back to the Second War World and what people were fighting against.
"In a world that's increasingly polarising it's a good reminder for us to take a step back and say what do we want our world to look like?
"What were the freedoms that were being fought for in the 1940s. Do we retain all of those freedoms today? If not, do we need to look at our lives again?"
He says this all also has a personal meaning, for him:
"One of my Grandfathers was a Royal Marine. He was in Germany for the end of the Second World War. So not very far back, I have relatives who were deeply affected by this conflict