Young and old come together in Deddington to mark the VE Day 80th anniversary
08/05/2025
Primary school children and veterans came together to lay wreathes
A large group of villagers gathered in Deddington this morning to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Members of the Royal British Legion, the emergency services, Banbury’s MP and the public gathered at the flagpole in the Market Place for an event which began with pupils from Year 6 at Deddington Primary School raising the Union Flag, as Deddington Brass Band led the National Anthem.
The sound of Pipe Major Steve Duffy’s bagpipes then accompanied the group as they moved to the village’s War Memorial. Here the names of those from Deddington who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country in the second world war were read out.
Wreathes were placed by members of the Royal British Legion working with Deddington Primary School children.
Banbury’s MP Sean Woodcock noted the importance of days like this. He said: “The second world war was probably the greatest trial that this country has faced. The generation who won us the war – the men and women involved in that – are quite rightly regarded as the greatest generation. They’re the heroes and the heroines who got us through that trial and brought us out the other side so that we have the democracy and the civilization that we have today. It’s really important that we pay them respect and honour them.”
Mr Woodcock noted the importance of ensuring future generations knew about the second world war and added how impressed he was with Deddington’s Primary School children.
He said: “Because its now 80 years, the people who were around at that time are fewer and fewer. It’s really important that the next generation – just as much as mine and the generation before – remember how close this country came to the abyss, and to tyranny, and the immense debt that we owe to the people involved in saving us from it.
“The school children that were here did brilliantly.”
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
