Blessed by glorious sunshine, Swanage in Dorset, enjoyed a day of festivities including a concert at the bandstand, the signing of the Armed Forces Covenant, and the lighting of beacons to commemorate 80 years since Victory in Europe towards the end of World War Two, known as VE Day.
Wednesday 8th May 2025 was a vintage commemorative day, from a joyous chorus of Edward Elgar’s Land of Hope and Glory at Swanage bandstand, to a more reflective evening at Durlston Castle lighting a beacon and remembering all the lives lost in the war.
Signing the Armed Forces Covenant left to right: Swanage town mayor Tina Foster, Major Grant Powell commanding officer of 3 (Harrogate) squadron based at Blandford Forum in Dorset, and Gavin Johns chair of the Swanage Railway Company
A crowd gathered on the platform, as it was also the preview day of Swanage Railway’s Diesel and Beer Gala
80 years on at Swanage station
Signing the Armed Forces Covenant
The first stop of the day was at Swanage station where the town mayor Tina Foster signed the Armed Forces Covenant which promises that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces are treated with fairness and respect.
Since 2022, the Covenant has been signed by a variety of organisations including councils, businesses, schools and charities.
Also signing the documents was Major Grant Powell, commanding officer of 3 (Harrogate) squadron based at Blandford Forum in Dorset, and Gavin Johns chair of the Swanage Railway Company.
VE Day 80th anniversary concert at the bandstand drew a large crowd
Popular local singer Karen Grant entertained with hits from the 40s
Mr Bandstand Alan Houghton dresses down for the occasion, collecting donations for The Veterans Association
Bandstand classics with Karen Grant
It was then a short walk over to Swanage Recreation Ground for a concert at the bandstand with local singer Karen Grant belting out some classic 1940s tunes including Vera Lynn’s The White Cliffs of Dover.
There was also a rousing rendition of the hymn Jerusalem, and the patriotic Land of Hope and Glory.
It concluded with the Last Post and joining in of the national two minutes of silence at 12 noon, to remember that while there was happiness at the end of World War Two, there were also countless grieving families who had lost relatives in the fighting and bombing.
Following the concert and the two minutes silence, the action moved to the war memorial where two new benches were unveiled to mark Swanage’s four decades of association with the Royal Corps of Signals.
Two commemorative trees were also planted near to the war memorial to recognise the long standing Swanage Army Link.
Unveiling the new benches at the war memorial
Planting commorative trees Left to right: Major Grant Powell, Staff Sargeant Mills, Corporal McCord, and Frank Roberts who organised the Army Link elements of the day
Swanage town mayor Tina Foster
“We look forward to continuing the strong relationship”
Speaking at the ceremony Swanage town mayor Tina Foster said:
“The Isle of Purbeck is famed for the development of radar. The Signals Regiment erected the wireless masts and laid cables for better contacts to assist the war effort.
“Swanage Railway was used to transport for the D Day assault. This was the beginning of the link between the railway and the Signals.
“…The Army Link is currently supporting Swanage Railway and Swanage Town Council, taking part in Remembrance parades, supporting Armed Forces day, D Day commemorations and many other fundraising and railway events.
“We look forward to continuing the strong relationship between us all – The Royal Signals, Swanage Railway and Swanage Town Council.”
Crowds watched the lighting of the beacon at Durlston Castle overlooking the English Channel
Refusing to be out shone, Studland puts on a dazzling display
Lighting of beacon at Durlston Castle
In the evening, across the UK, beacons were lit including one at Durlston Castle organised by Dorset Council.
Guests assembled from 8.30 pm with the lighting of the gas-powered beacon, under the powerful beam of the moon, at 9.30 pm.
The Tribute was read by His Majesty’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant Charlotte Townshend, followed by speeches from chair of Dorset Council Stella Jones, and past chair of Dorset Royal British Legion Gerry Nunn. The evening concluded with the National Anthem.
Not to be outdone, just round the coastline, Studland proved that while it may be a small village, it knows how to put on a show.
Its commemorations started with a remembrance service at St Nicholas Church, followed by around 150 residents gathering at Old Harry and forming a large and impressive VE 80 sign with burning torches.
Swanage Town Hall puts the bunting up in May 1945 for VE Day
The victory parade in 1945 marching up Station Road, headed by inspector Christopher Humphries of the Special Constabulary
VE Day memories
The end of World War Two in Europe was 80 years ago and as time goes by there are less who remember the conflict.
However for Nigel Humphries who was born and brought up in Swanage and now lives in Corfe Castle, he can still recall VE Day, although he was a young boy at the time.
In May 1945 with the dangers of war receding, he went with his family on a short seaside holiday from Swanage to Weymouth, staying in the Burdon Hotel now renamed the Prince Regent. Writing in his memoirs he remembers his mother waking him up in the hotel room:
“Her face was wreathed in smiles and Dad called us over to the open window. In the street below the lights of Weymouth were on again and they were thronging with people dancing, singing, cheering, shouting and crying with joy.
“Its over!” they cried, again and again.
“We have won the war!”
“Hitler is dead!”
“The Germans have surrendered!”
“Peace at last!”
“We didn’t know what peacetime really meant, having been brought up in war torn England, but the joy on their faces told us that the great nightmare was over, and now was the time to celebrate.
“Bemused, we leaned out of the open window and gazed in wonder at the scene below. The whole promenade was alive with people, mostly in uniform shouting and singing on the top of their voices.
“A small 15 cwt army truck piled high with revellers could be seen driving slowly along the wide pedestrian area as everyone was walking and dancing along the roadway.
“Two drunken sailors in uniform were shining up the freshly lit lamppost right outside our bedroom window. They smiled and waved to us and we waved back. Sleepy eyed and happy we went back to bed again and soon fell asleep in spite of joyful revelling in the street below.
“It was VE Day, Tuesday 8th May 1945, and the war in Europe was over at last.”
Robin (left) and Nigel Humphries (right) pictured in 2022, standing in the doorway of Tilly Whims on the same spot where they sheltered from the air raid in 1942
Robin (left) and Nigel Humphries (right) in 1945
Lucky to survive
Earlier in Swanage in 1942, Nigel then aged five and his brother Robin aged eight, narrowly escaped a bombing raid in the town centre.
They were just returning from the beach on Sunday 23rd August 1942, when a bomb hit The Square and Swanage Dairy in the High Street.
They were lucky to survive, having sheltered in Bicks the tobacconist (now clothing shop Tilly Whims), right next to the dairy which was destroyed. Five civilians weren’t so lucky and lost their lives on that day.
Nigel said:
“To this day, the sound of the air raid warning siren is the one thing that causes me real distress. It was wailing across the town, as we ran down Institute Road to be herded into the doorway of Bicks the tobacconist, just before the bomb fell.
“Whenever I see on the news, children being dragged out of the rubble in war zones like Gaza or Syria, I say under my breath ‘I know just how you feel’.
“As we celebrate VE Day, please remember the 18 civilians who perished in the bombing raids on Swanage, as well as the many, like my cousin Ron who did not come back.”
Watch the concert at Swanage bandstand
Watch the beacon lighting at Durlston Castle
Further information
- More about VE Day on Dan Snow’s History Hit podcast on BBC Sounds
More photos
