Verwood Council is reminding residents not to gather at the war memorial on Friday to commemorate VE Day.

Due to the current restrictions there will not be a public display of remembrance as previously planned on Friday 8th May.

A Council post on Facebook says: “We encourage you to observe the two minutes silence at 11am at home, please do not gather at the memorial.”

Friday 8 May marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day – the official end of the Second World War in Europe, and celebrations would have been taking place across the country including tea parties in the streets.

Councillor Pauline Batstone, Chairman of Dorset Council, said: “We want everyone to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day safely. We may not be able to have the public celebrations many people planned, but we can still remember the heroes of WWII.

“Celebrate in your own home, or back garden if you have one, but please do not be tempted to visit relatives or friends.

“We hope to be able to celebrate VE Day properly when precautions allow, but for now please continue to observe government advice: stay home, stay safe, and protect our NHS. We also look forward to the time when we can to get together to commemorate VJ Day, especially marking the end of the 2nd Battalion of Dorset’s involvement in the conflict in Burma.”

Sam Crowe, Director of Public Health for Dorset and BCP Councils said: “We know with celebrations like a Bank Holiday, it’s even harder not to be able to see friends and family. We want to thank everyone for all they are doing to help us stop the spread of COVID-19.

“The threat of the virus is still very real in Dorset, but by staying at home and following social distancing guidelines we can limit the impact it will have.”

Dorset Police Chief Constable James Vaughan said: “We know many people across Dorset will wish to mark this very special day and although we may not be able to hold street parties, we will have to come up with innovative ways of remembering the heroes of World War II. Please continue to observe Government advice on social distancing and stay at home.”

Ways to commemorate

• Pause for a Two Minute Silence at 11am and watch stories and memories from those who served and sacrificed during the Second World War
• Join ‘The Nation’s Toast’ at 3pm – raise a glass with the nation to the heroes of WWII (broadcast starts at 2.45pm on BBC1)
• Watch further VE Day 75 special broadcasts on the BBC, including extracts from Churchill’s famous victory speech and Her Majesty The Queen addressing the nation at 9pm
• Take part in a national singalong of Dame Vera Lynn’s ‘We’ll meet again’
• Decorate your home in red, white and blue. Print and colour in bunting, posters and thank you cards to display in your windows
• Have an indoor or back garden picnic. Your menu choices could include recipe ideas from 1945!
• Visit the English Heritage website to learn songs from the era, including classics from Glenn Miller and Vera Lynn, and get tips on how to dance the Lindy Hop.
• Visit the VE Day 75 website to learn about the history of the war. They’ve also got some recipes to take it back to 1945, including spam hash and eggless fruit cake
• Take Dan Snow’s VE Day challenge for young people
• Share your VE Day activities on social media using the #VEDay75 hashtag
• See some of our ideas and tell us what you’re planning

The council will be flying the Union Flag, the Dorset Flag and the Dorset Council Flag at County Hall, Dorchester, from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 May. Union Flags will also be flown at other Dorset Council buildings around the county.

The war in the East did not end until 15 August 1945, when Japan surrendered. The day was celebrated across the world as ‘Victory over Japan’ (VJ Day).

Dorset Council has refused applications for street closures because of the risk of spreading COVID-19.