Local WWII Veteran at VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration
On Thursday 8 May 2025, the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe, Britain and beyond celebrated.
At The Well, we recreated that day in memory of those who lived and died during those dark times.
Local centenarian Celia Pemberton, a young 100½ who joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service (Wrens) at Christmas 1943, was our guest of honour. On VE Day, Celia was serving in the Orkneys in the Photographic Section when the war ended over the tannoy system.
Guests enjoyed tea in 1940s style cups and saucers, and homemade VE day cakes.
Children from Kibworth Primary School asked Celia questions about her life and time in the Wrens. Representatives from Leicestershire Fire & Rescue, Leicestershire Police, parish councillors, 1st Kibworth Scouts, and volunteers from The Well attended.
The café front on the High St was transformed into a wartime building with sandbags, signs, tape on the windows, bunting, and flags. Genuine newspapers from the time were on display, and a decommissioned WWII bomb formed part of a creative window display.
The whole event was broadcast live on BBC Radio Leicester. Celia was presented with a beautiful red, white, and blue themed bouquet as a thank you for joining us and in recognition of her long life and service to our country.
Andy Wright
V E Day celebrations
