Get the flags out: We can still celebrate VE Day 75 years on with a 'stay at home' party

LATER THIS WEEK WE'LL HAVE A RIGHT ROYAL KNEES-UP WITHOUT HUGS OR KISSES (UNLESS IT'S WITH YOUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY)

IT will be like no other street party before it as Atherstone dusts off its 'dance away the lockdown' shoes and puts on the razzle-dazzle ritz dress to celebrate something the majority of us missed – as we weren't born.

Three-legged races are banned, neighbours will be toasted with Isolation Cocktail specials and a stiff upper lip will be required to fend off any thoughts of invoking the wild embracing of three quarters of a century ago when our nation had just discovered a world war was over.

But the 'stay at home' theme won't spoil the fun of the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

Across Atherstone and the rest of borough the message has gone out to put up your flags and banners for the VE event on Friday.

And in care and residential homes where residents are gathered together there a knees-up and singalongs, too.

Atherstone and district is already preparing for the day of national thanksgiving. Bank Road will be celebrating, according to Amanda Bartlam, and Rawn View in Mancetter, says Elaine Gardiner.

Singer Caroline Crystal plans to stream a 'sentimental journey' from a bygone age while Luv2Disco has all-day musical entertainment planned from 10.30am to 9pm on May 8.

There's a 'Make Do and Mend' VE Day family challenge – just one of the special activities you can do at home with Heritage and Libraries in Warwickshire all next week.

Though traditional street parties are cancelled, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is encouraging people to get into the spirit of the day and has produced a special template pack so the public can hold a 1940s-style afternoon tea party at home. Click here for it.

The day begins with a two-minute silence at 11am. The Archbishop of Canterbury will record a special reflection and moment of prayer.

Winston Churchill's address to the nation announcing Germany's surrender will be broadcast on the BBC at 2.45pm.

If the mood takes you, it could be tea and scones at 4pm, dinner at 6pm with a toast to neighbours (from 6ft), and then listening to a pre-recorded address by the Queen to be broadcast on BBC One at 9pm – the same hour as her father, King George VI, made his radio address marking victory in Europe after what he called "nearly six years of suffering and peril".

They'll be national sing-a-long of We'll Meet Again, the Vera Lynn classic.

Please let us know at AtherstoneNub News how you will be celebrating the day. And send us your pictures. You can do so via our Nubit button, email the editor at [email protected] or go to our Facebook page.