Pipes and drums lead parade for VE Day service

In Trowbridge, a parade marked the anniversary of the end of the war in Europe and paid tribute to the town's fallen heroes.

The pipes and drums of the Penhill Band led the march from Market Street to St James's Parish Church for a service of commemoration.

After the service, the parade reformed and marched to Trowbridge Park where a single wreath was laid.

Brian Mitchell, 65, of Pitman Avenue, led the parade.

He said: "It was incredibly moving for me. My brother was a rear gunner with the RAF in the war. He was shot down and never made it back alive. His name is on the war memorial in the park.

"Everybody was really moved by the parade, particularly my friend Dick Attenborough. He went to the parade with his daughter as he wanted to march out of the park.

"He is an incredibly proud and brave man but he only made a few steps before his legs gave out. When he went to get a taxi home the driver wouldn't accept any money.

"So many people were touched by the whole day and it was a real honour to be involved."

Mr Mitchell also paid tribute to a younger generation of soldiers.

"I was really impressed with the young cadets," he said.

"You hear such bad things about a lot of kids today, but it is just a few idiots who are ruining it for everyone.

"But these young men and women did themselves very proud.

"I told them I could remember being in the same position myself."

At Longleat House in Warminster on Saturday, military charity Soldiers', Sailors', Airmen and Families' Association (SSAFA) paid tribute to veterans.

The Clive and Lucknow bands from the Prince of Wales Division played for visitors and guests. The Drums and Pipes of the 1st Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) also performed a military musical display.

Melvyn Thomas, from the Warminster branch of SSAFA, said: "All the bands came together for a finale in front of the house at the end of the day. It was really spectacular and a worthy tribute to the veterans who were there."

More than 40 million people had lost their lives by the time the Second World War ended in Europe on May 8, 1945.

l THE women who played their part in the Second World War effort were honoured in Warminster this week in a theatre production at the Athenaeum.

Trailblazers, homemakers, and factory workers were all recognised in the play, A String of Pearls, on Friday night.

As One Productions, which donates money to the Royal British Legion, wrote and performed the musical to celebrate VE Day, which focuses on the lives of three women during wartime

Peter Hitchens, chairman of the Royal British Legion, Warminster, said: "This was an excellent performance by the cast and we who attended were privileged to be part of it.

"The group will repeat the performance in September and I hope that every seat in the theatre is pre-booked.

More photographs appear in this week's Wiltshire Times