A 1945 party in Maygrove Road [All photos: Camden Council]

THE Town Hall has suggested people wanting to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of European conflict in the Second World War – VE Day – have a stay-at-home picnic.

With restrictions on movement due to the coronavirus lockdown, plans to celebrate the anniversary on an unusual Friday bank holiday – moved in the calendar from Monday – have had to be changed. Camden has dug into its archives to release photos of VE Day from 1945 which show street parties in Rugby Street, Bloomsbury, and Maygrove Road, West Hampstead. Ideas for marking the day are included on the government’s VE-VJ Day website, including help on making bunting and an indoor picnic.

Celebrations in Rugby Street

Mayor of Camden Councillor Maryam Eslamdoust said: “VE day is a day where we celebrate peace and a rejection of hate and hostility. We remember the enormous sacrifices made by Camden residents in past conflicts and the efforts of all those who continue to promote peace in the world. In Camden we are proud to be a borough that stands up to speak out against those seeking to cause discord and divide us – we are and always will be, no place for hate.”

She added: “For all Camden residents this bank holiday we must abide by the key advice – to stay at home and save lives. “However, for residents who want to, I do encourage them to get involved in some of the available activities within their own household – and to have fun learning about that poignant and celebratory moment when the guns fell silent in Europe 75 years ago.” The council asked residents and community organisations to send the best photos of their indoor celebrations to the @CamdenCouncil feed on Twitter.

More details: ve-vjday75.gov.uk/veday