Memorial services taking place to honour 80th anniversary of VE Day
MEMORIAL services are taking place in Lerwick and Scalloway today (Thursday) to mark the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
The first took place at the country war memorial in Lerwick this morning.
A second event is being held in Scalloway at the Shetland Bus memorial this afternoon at 3pm.
It forms part of a wider suite of events taking place this week in Shetland to honour the 80th anniversary of VE day – the point at which the Second World War came to an end in Europe following the surrender of Germany.
It kicked off on Tuesday when a convoy of historic Norwegian boats, some of which took part in the World War Two Shetland Bus operation, arrived in Lerwick after sailing from Bergen.
These boats have been open to the public since Wednesday and will continue to take visitors on board through to Friday afternoon.
Skippers of the boats have been full of praise for the warm welcome they have received in Shetland – read more about their experience here.
The role of the Shetland Bus, which initially operated from Lunna House before moving to Scalloway in 1943, played a vital role in the resistance against the occupation of Norway by Nazi-Germany by transporting resistance fighters, agents and refugees across the sea.
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The memorial in Scalloway was built with stones taken from the village or place where each of the 44 crewmen who died on the Shetland Bus missions came from.
On the top of the memorial is a model of the Andholmen boat, which operated in the Shetland Bus operation.
She is part of the ‘Liberation Convoy’ which arrived in Shetland this week.
The visiting boats are due to leave Lerwick on Saturday, although it is expected some will visit other local ports including Scalloway and Baltasound.
Before that though there will be a concert from musicians in the Norwegian naval band at the Big Kirk in Lerwick at 7.30pm tonight.
There was also a parade through Lerwick last night from the harbour to Lerwick Town Hall, where a civic reception was held.
To mark VE Day there are some events taking place around the isles today, including at the Shetland Museum and Archives and the Blyde Welcome cafe.
A variety concert is also taking place at the Whiteness and Weisdale Hall at 7pm to raise funds for Ability Shetland.
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