Updated: Veteran remembers comrades with VJ Day wreath-laying and villagers turn out to pay tribute. Wreaths are laid in Grays and West Thurrock. See video reports.
By Neil Speight 16th Aug 2020
VJ Day was commemorated in Thurrock today despite the problems of Covid-19 which curtailed any major celebration.
One of the annual events associated with the end of the Second World at the cessation of hostilities in the Far east is the annual service at the Burma Star Association garden in Orsett.
This year, the 75th anniversary, it couldn't happen publicly, but Mike Ostler of the Thurrock Far East Veterans' Association was present with village vicar Rev Sue Mann and laid a wreath.
And in nearby Bulphan a two minute silence at 11am reflected the national remembrance and villagers turned out to hear village town crier Steve Benn shout out a message about the great events in 1945 while Piper Jo Goddard played in the grounds of the church. The village church bell tolled 75 times.
Representatives of Thurrock Royal British Legion laid wreaths at a number of places.
President and chairman Rod Oakley and his wife Sabine visited Turps Corner (Little Thurrock), Grays High Street Memorial, the new Grays Victory Memorial in Grays Town Park and The Rose Garden in Orsett. A video of Rod laying a wreath and saying the Kohima Epitaph is here.
Rob and Wendy Taylor laid a wreath at the West Thurrock memorial.
In Grays this evening (Saturday, 15 August), the Thameside Complex was lit up in red, white and blue.
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