Local communities come together to celebrate VE Day
Last updated 8th May 2025
Acts of remembrance are taking place across our region to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Church bells will ring out in Berwick at 6.30pm this evening (Thursday), before a special beacon is lit - at Windmill Bastion - on the town's Walls at 9.30pm.
It follows a day of events which began with a flag-raising ceremony on the Guildhall steps this morning, when a bugler played The Last Post.
Children at Holy Trinity First School have also been taking part in 1940s style dances, while the Mayor is hosting an Afternoon Tea at Berwick Barracks this afternoon.
Elsewhere, a beacon is also being lit on the Ford and Etal Estate, while Selkirk Beaver Scouts are making Lamp Lights for Peace, which will be placed in the Remembrance Garden opposite the town’s War Memorial.
Wreath-laying ceremonies are also being held across the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland throughout the day to remember those who lost their lives in the conflict.
A special Drumhead Service of Remembrance will follow in Kelso at 1.30pm on Saturday - to avoid a clash with the national VE Day events.
From 12.30pm to 5pm, the town centre is being transformed into a military village as part of a day of celebrations, which will include a display of vintage vehicles and music from The Royal Regiment of Scotland band - with Hawick singer Alan Bryden; Kelso Pipes and Drums, and the Veterans Pipes and Drums of the King's Own Scottish Borderers.
The event will be brought to a close with a Beating Retreat ceremony at Floors Castle at 6pm, with the salute being taken by His Grace, The Duke of Roxburghe.
Lieutenant General John Cooper, of The King's Own Scottish Borderers, is the driving force behind this event. He told Greatest Hits Radio: "Wars are disgusting, terrible things. But, if ever there was a just war, it was the Second World War. It was a war that had to be fought, because we were fighting extremism.
"It has maintained democracy in western Europe, and the west generally, and allowed democracy to thrive elsewhere in the world. Had we not won, who knows what the world would look like.
“Our own local Regiment, The King's Own Scottish Borderers fought in Europe in 1940 and then five of our battalions advanced from Normandy to the Baltic in the liberation of Europe in 1944-45.
“We suffered 1,099 men killed and many thousands more wounded in Europe. We will commemorate not only those fallen Borderers but all those killed in Europe. They died for our democratic way of life and for the freedom we enjoy today.”
Traffic came to a standstill on the A72 in Walkerburn earlier as the Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale, Catherine Maxwell Stuart, laid a wreath to "remember the bravery, courage and sacrifice made by so many during World War Two".
"While the main focus of commemorations in the Scottish Borders will be in Kelso this year, we would like to honour and remember the many lives lost in Tweeddale,” she said.
"I know this is a Victory in Europe Day and a lot of celebrations are planned, but I think it's very important that we also commemorate those who lost their lives, who are battle scarred, and for their friends, families and loved ones.
"We started in West Linton and we had a number of service people turn out, including a veteran who was 99-and-a-half years old, and so that was marvellous. There was a really lovely turnout in Peebles as well, Innerleithen, and of course Walkerburn - very, very important as the village that lost the most young men during the war."
A pensioner from the Borders revealed he was on his way to the shop to trade in his comic books when the end of the Second World War was announced in Europe 80 years ago.
Bill Bell - a resident at Grove House care home in Kelso - was just six-years-old and living in Yorkshire at the time.
"We were fortunate," he said, "we didn't see a lot of the bombing. It did come to us at times, and it was quite scary really; although we missed a lot of it because my dad got us moved to the coast."
Recalling the moment the Germans surrendered, he added: "I was just going to the shop to do my trade in comic books, and just as I got round there, there were all these people leaping about - dancing. And I didn't know what it was all about until later."
Back in Berwick, the Salvation Army is paying tribute to 103-year-old volunteer Grace Friar who was guest of honour at the Harvestfield Furniture Project's special VE Day 'street-party',
She was posted to a naval hospital in Aberdeen in 1940, aged 19. Here she cared for injured service personnel, later becoming the youngest petty officer in Scotland by the age of 21.
Speaking about this time, Grace said: “I can see why they call it the greatest generation. People helped each other, shared food, were kind… the world needs more kindness.”
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