As the country celebrated 80 years since VE Day, St Mary’s joined in with two major events. On Sunday 4th May, the church hosted a 1945 style afternoon Tea Dance with Monmouth Swing Band. On 8th May, the VE Day Story was told though a multi-media presentation of story-telling, music, pictures and song with moments of recollection, remembrance, ceremony and thanksgiving. Veterans and members of the Royal British Legion were joined by Scouts, Guides and Uniformed Military Cadets who received the Lamp of Peace and were charged with remembering the lessons of War.

The evening finished with the lighting of the beacon on the Prospect. Photo: Nigel Stenning.