Thursday 8 May 2025 marks 80 years since VE Day and the end of WWII, with Moray and Banffshire residents being encouraged to join in commemorations.
The Lord Lieutenant of Moray and Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire have announced the plans underway to commemorate the significant anniversary in Moray and are asking locals to get involved. A special invitation is being extended to those over 80 who are the last of a generation profoundly impacted by WWII.
The day will start at 10am with the raising of the VE Day flag at Moray Council HQ, to which all are invited to observe. There will also be a service at the Land Girls Memorial at Clochan at 11am.
At 12pm pipers across the region are invited to join pipers playing “Celebratum” and “The Battle’s O’er” on the four peaks of the UK and Balmoral Castle. From 2pm a service will take place at St Giles Church in Elgin with all members of the community invited to attend. The congregation will move out to the Plainstones around 2.30pm where the Lord Lieutenant will read the speech given by Winston Churchill marking the end of the war before local pipers signal the end of the ceremony. All are welcome to attend all aspects of the service and street parties and community events are encouraged to bring everyone together. Communities hosting events or commemorations are encouraged to share these with the Lieutenancy by emailing lieutenancy@moray.gov.uk.
At 6.30pm communities are encouraged to gather for the ringing of church bells throughout Moray and Banffshire with pipers once again playing. Deputy Lieutenants will read Churchill’s address at significant landmarks within each council ward, to be confirmed.
At 9.30pm beacons and the lamp light of peace will be lit around the region, notably in Findhorn, Lossiemouth East Beach and on Ben Rinnes, while the VE Day tribute or Churchill’s speech is recited.
Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Major-General Seymour Monro CBE, is encouraging people in Moray to get involved with the commemorations: “The 8th of May 1945 was a day of celebration with the streets brimming with people singing and dancing.
Bittersweet for many who had lost loved ones in the war or were waiting for their safe return. Now we have the opportunity to thank, remember and commemorate all those involved with bringing about the end of the war and peace to our shores. I hope local people in Moray take the opportunity to join us for the service at St Giles Church and events around the county on the day.”
A full list of all VE day celebratory events across Moray:
Sunday 4 May
11am – Cullen Church Hall – cafe style service with all welcome to attend.
2pm-4pm – Grange Community association VE Day teas.
Monday 5 May
2pm-5pm – Scribbles, Elgin – VE Day Afternoon Tea.
Wednesday 7 May
12.30pm – Anderson’s Care Home, Elgin – street party.
Evening – Keith memorials – We Will Meet Again tartan and poppies will be hung.
Thursday 8 May
10am – Moray Council HQ – VE 80 Flag raised – all welcome.
10am – Station Park, Lossiemouth – flag raising.
10am – Anderson’s Care Home flag raising, piper and garden of remembrance.
10am-6pm – Smith Drive, Elgin – street party.
10:30am – Keith Memorial – 20 min service and wreath laying. (timing unknown)
11am – Women’s Land Army Memorial, Clochan – commemoration.
12-2pm – Lossiemouth Community Council soup and sweet.
2pm – St Giles Church, Elgin – service with all welcome to attend.
6.30pm bell ringing at: Hopeman Kirk; Dallas Church; Forres churches; Bellie Church, Fochabers; Pluscarden Abbey.
6.30pm – Forres Tolbooth – VE Day 80 flag being raised.
6.30pm – Keith War Memorial – Piping and reading of Churchill’s speech.
6pm-9.30pm – Bijou by the Sea, Buckie – VE Day party.
7pm – Hopeman Memorial Hall – light procession piped to the beach, moment of reflection then teas in the hall.
9.30pm – Beacons lit at Lossiemouth East Beach, Findhorn Pier and Ben Rinnes.
Friday 9 May
6.30pm – Royal British Legion, Keith – concert with the Country Quines and Keith Primary School; Keith & District Silver Band and ceilidh.
Saturday 10 May
Keith Primary 7 coffee morning – North Kirk Hall.
10am-12pm – Duffus Village Hall coffee morning.
Hopeman Memorial Hall coffee morning.
Tomintoul Richmond Memorial Hall – VE Day teas.
4pm-late – Dallas Village Hall Spring Social.
Sunday 11 May
11am – The Highlanders Memorial, Fochabers – 20 mins service.
1pm-3.30pm – Royal British Legion, Dufftown – VE Day party, pipe band leaving from Clocktower.