News / Lerwick coffee shop to be transported back in time as part of VE Day celebrations
Museum will also host live music, ration-era cookery demonstrations and 1940s hair styling
A LERWICK café is to step back in time to the 1940s as part of the 80th anniversary celebrations of VE Day this week.
A series of events are being planned in the lead up to VE Day on Thursday, with the town set to welcome a flotilla of World War Two-era Norwegian ships from Tuesday.
A ‘liberation convoy’ of five Norwegian vessels is expected to arrive in Lerwick tomorrow after leaving Norway this morning (Monday).
Among the other events planned to mark the historic milestone are a procession through Lerwick on Wednesday night, a civic reception at Lerwick Town Hall and wreath laying ceremonies in town and Scalloway.
Shetland Museum and Archives will also host a VE celebration on Thursday, with live music, ration-era cookery demonstrations and 1940s hair styling available.
Lerwick coffee shop Blyde Welcome is set to join in the celebrations by transporting visitors back to the 1940s on Thursday, which is VE Day.
Its staff will don 1940s attire and will serve up a nostalgic menu of British classics, such as jam tarts, bakewell sponge and Victoria sandwich cake.
There will also be an opportunity to sample a traditional wartime oatcake alongside Blyde Welcome’s own version of kirn cheese.
Blyde Welcome said Shetland had a “long tradition of baking”, with people having to be resourceful during the war years to combine rations for even a simple cake.
Founder Celia Smith said they were “honoured to take part in this tribute to Lerwick’s history”.
“Our coffee shop is all about warmth and welcome, so bringing that spirit of friendship to this commemorative event feels very fitting,” she said.
Living Lerwick is also coordinating shop window displays along the street to mark the town’s wartime contribution and, in particular, the bravery and heroism of those involved in the Shetland Bus operation.
Blyde Welcome said locals and visitors were invited to stop by the Commercial Street shop on Thursday to raise a cup to eight decades of peace and remembrance.
At Shetland Museum and Archives people are being encouraged to “dress to impress in your best 1940s style” for their VE 80 Celebration event on Thursday night from 7pm to 9.30pm.
Local historian Jon Sandison will give a talk, with live music being provided by Girsie and the Loose Ends.
Taste of Shetland will be on hand to give demonstrations of ration-era cooking, while UHI students will offer 1940s hair styling.
Artefacts and military uniforms from World War Two will also be on display at the event, which people can book tickets for here.
Ability Shetland are also hosting a VE Day variety concert at the Whiteness and Weisdale hall on Thursday from 7pm, with tea/coffee and homebakes included.
The event is raising money for the Shetland team attending the Scottish Learning Disability Sport National Games this July.
All five visiting Norwegian ships will be open to the public from 11am to 5pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Crews from the vessels, veterans and guests will also form a procession led by Lerwick Pipe Band from Lerwick Harbour to the town hall on Wednesday at 6.30pm.
Council convener Andrea Manson will then host an evening civic reception at the town hall for invited guests.
On Thursday the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe (‘VE’) day will be marked with public commemorative events in Lerwick and Scalloway.
Lord Lieutenant Lindsay Tulloch and convener Manson will lead the laying of wreaths, with a memorial service in Lerwick taking place at the county war memorial at 11am.
In Scalloway a memorial service will take place at the Shetland Bus memorial at 3pm.
In the evening of 8 May musicians from the Norwegian Naval Band will perform a free concert in St Columba’s Kirk in Lerwick from 7.30pm, with donations to be split equally between veterans’ charities.
The vessels are expected to start departing Lerwick on Saturday 11 May, with some returning to Norway and others visiting Shetland ports like Scalloway and Baltasound.
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