Honouring the Past, Celebrating Together: VE Day at the Garden of Honour

On Thursday 8 May, RBLI hosted a VE Day celebration that brought together over 300 guests for an evening of music, food and remembrance in the Garden of Honour.

Live performances from the Charlies Mackie Band, Swing Noir and Medway Big Band provided a nostalgic soundtrack that was enjoyed by all. Guests gathered around food stalls serving fish and chips, coffee and ice cream, which proved especially popular. An old military vehicle parked nearby added a thoughtful historical touch, sparking conversations and memories throughout the evening.

As the evening drew to a close, the beacon lighting ceremony offered a deeply moving moment. Pat, a 93-year-old resident of RBLI’s Queen Elizabeth Court, was invited to light the beacon as she stood beside the memorial dedicated to her father, a WWII submariner. She shared the memory of receiving a wartime telegram informing her family that he was missing, a story that brought a profound sense of reflection to the event.

Pat’s story was also featured in RBLI’s VE Day video, which was played during the evening and is available to view on our YouTube channel. VJ Day was also respectfully acknowledged throughout the programme, with references woven into the evening’s messaging.

We were honoured to welcome Deputy Lord Lieutenant and Mrs Nadra Ahmed CBE DL alongside our Chief Executive Lisa Farmer OBE and RBLI Chairman Steve Robotham, whose presence helped mark the occasion as a meaningful moment of remembrance and community pride.

The evening was a celebration of resilience, history and community in a fitting tribute to those who served and those who continue to carry their legacy forward.