Rushmoor Borough Council is inviting residents to a free open-air community event on Friday 15 August, which has been organised to commemorate the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.
The event gets under way at 8.15pm in Manor Park, Aldershot, and culminates in the lighting of the borough’s new beacon at 9.15pm, as part of the national commemorations to mark the anniversary. The beacons symbolise the "light of peace" that emerged from the darkness of war.
In the lead-up to the beacon lighting, there will be music from Lorrie Brown, paying tribute to Vera Lynn, a short talk from local historian Paul Vickers, readings, and a parade of veterans’ associations and uniformed youth groups to the beacon.
This event has been organised by the council with the support of the Military Events Enhancement Group, led by Rushmoor Borough Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Nadia Martin, a partnership that brings together veterans, armed forces spouses and local organisations such as the Royal British Legion, the Shots Foundation, and the Garrison Community Team. The group exists to encourage community participation, deepen integration between military and civilian life, and ensure that the stories and sacrifices of our armed forces are never forgotten.
Visitors are encouraged to bring torches, as it will be dark by the time the event ends.
Rushmoor Borough Council’s Deputy Leader, and Cabinet member for Healthy Communities and Active Lives, Councillor Sophie Porter, said:
“As a community, we in Aldershot and Farnborough take pride in honouring our past while strengthening the bonds that hold us together today.
“This event is about remembrance and preserving a vital part of Aldershot and Farnborough’s heritage. We can use our shared history to bring our diverse community closer together. The beacon stands not just as a symbol of the past, but as a living reminder of unity, a way for us to come together, reflect, and build stronger local connections.
Rushmoor Borough Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Nadia Martin, added: “We are encouraging everyone to attend and join us in lighting up the evening in honour of the generation that served in the Far East during the Second World War many of whom never returned. Their legacy deserves not only our respect but our continued presence and commitment to remembrance.
“Let’s come together once again, just as we did for the VE Day commemorations at Manor Park, to show that Aldershot and Farnborough remember, value our heritage and stand together.”
For more information on the event, please see the VJ Day web page.