80th Anniversary of VE/VJ Day – Commemoration Concert

On the day war was declared, lives were changed here in Leeds and across the world overnight. Loved ones went off to war and to do important work across the country leaving behind families and friends.

Join us to celebrate, commemorate and reflect on the 80th Anniversary of VE and VJ Days. 

Listen as we learn about life as a Land Girl, a firefighter in Leeds as bombs rained down on the city and hear what life was like and how Loiners celebrated in 1945.

Supported by our armed forces family in Leeds, any money raised including ticket sales will go to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal to continue its valuable work with our veterans.

Tickets are £5 with all proceeds being donated to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

Available online from https://my.leedstickethub.co.uk/29884

With delightful music from the Bridge Ensemble,

Leeds Philharmonic Chorus and a wonderfully evocative musical tribute to the popular songs of the day from Leeds’ own Hummingbirds along with the poignant playing of a lone piper from Leeds Pipe Band.

Programme of Events
Orchestral performance of Light Music – Bridge Ensemble
Welcome – Rev’d Canon Paul Maybury
Marching in of the standards To Ralph Vaughan Williams’ – Old Hundredth – Leeds Philharmonic Chorus and Bridge Ensemble
Presentation of the Leeds Award to D-day veteran, Jack Mortimer – The Lord Mayor of Leeds
The Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire – Ed Anderson CBE
C H H Parry – Crossing the Bar – Leeds Philharmonic Chorus
The Homefront
A Leeds Girl in the Land Army – James Pawlowski
Eric Coates – Youth of Britain (Princess Elizabeth) – Bridge Ensemble
The Front Line – Rev’d Canon Paul Maybury
Elgar – Nimrod – Bridge Ensemble
The Leeds Blitz – Auxiliary Firefighters
     Shane Ewan – Professor of History, Leeds Beckett University
     With Leeds District Fire Brigade Commander Lee Miller
Russell Pascoe – The Last Rose of Summer – Leeds Philharmonic Chorus
D-Day 1944
Road to the Isles / Highland Ladie – Fergus McClellan – Leeds Pipe Band
VE/VJ Day 1945 – Jen Boyle
Medley of Wartime Songs – The Hummingbirds
The Lord Mayor of Leeds – Councillor Abigail Marshall-Katung
The National Anthem
‘We’ll Meet Again’ – The Hummingbirds, chorus, orchestra
and audience
Reception – Church café