More than 400 cinemas from Inverness to Truro and from Belfast to Swansea, prepare to unite the nation with a concert of commemoration and celebration.
VE Day 75 With The Daily Mail, presented by SSAFA, the UK’s oldest national tri-service military charity, takes place on Friday 8 May.
On this special May Bank Holiday, the Military Wives Choirs, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and a host of special guests will take to the stage at a sold out Royal Albert Hall for an inspiring and patriotic evening.
To mark this historic moment in British history, cinemas up and down the country will bring communities together exactly 75 years to the day since Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously announced the end of the Second World War in Europe.
Audiences will enjoy the Royal Albert Hall experience with stunning cinematic surround sound. The concert will feature stirring and emotional music from some of Britain’s greatest composers – from ‘Elgar’s Nimrod and Pomp and Circumstance (‘Land of Hope and Glory’) to Ron Goodwin’s Battle Of Britain Theme, a Dame Vera Lynn classic and many more.
D-Day Veteran Jim Radford who achieved a number one single in June 2019 with ‘The Shores of Normandy’ will perform live and there will also be on stage appearances by other Second World War Veterans.
This event is in support of SSAFA. The Armed Forces charity offers support to those currently serving, regulars and Reservists, in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force, Veterans and military families, as well as Veterans from the Merchant Navy.
Sir Andrew Gregory, CEO of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, said:
“SSAFA is proud to present this poignant concert that will honour the men and women who lost their lives during the Second World War and also celebrate the freedom and safety that we enjoy today, thanks to our Armed Forces.
It is our duty to keep the events of the past alive in our collective memory. By ensuring that future generations understand these matters, it will help ensure that such a conflict never happens again. We hope that the Nation takes a moment to reflect on the significance of this date, for it was a milestone that changed the course of history for the whole world.”
Geordie Greig, Editor of the Daily Mail, said:
“VE Day 75 will be a vital opportunity to celebrate perhaps the greatest day in British history. We are partnering with the Armed Forces charity, SSAFA, to ensure that the countless heroes of the Second World War are remembered in a night of superb music and patriotic pride.”
Craig Hassall, CEO of the Royal Albert Hall, said:
“We are honoured to host this event exactly 75 years to the day since the guns fell silent at the end of the war in Europe. The Hall has a long and important history of uniting the country in support for those who serve and have served, and in remembrance of all those who have lost their lives in conflict.
I am delighted that the Hall can be the centre of this anniversary commemoration of the arrival of peace in Europe.”
Malcolm Wilson, General Manager of the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, said:
“We are delighted to be performing on the Royal Albert Hall stage to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. It is a privilege for the Orchestra to honour and respect the dedicated and brave men and women who made it possible for us to be the custodians of our country and its diverse and developed culture that it is today.
We welcome the opportunity to perform this fantastic programme of music for what will be a most special occasion for all who are able to attend, performers and audience alike.”
Melanie Nightingale, Director, Military Wives Choirs, said:
“The Military Wives Choirs are proud to be a part of this momentous anniversary event. Our role has always been to bring people together and so it gives us great pleasure to be involved in telling the story of VE Day to hundreds of communities all over the country; across small, independent cinemas, large multiplexes and everything in between.”
Randolph Churchill, great-grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, said:
“This could be our last opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to the veterans of the Second World War. Let us never forget the heroes who gave their lives for us and for future generations. We owe it to them to responsibly cherish those liberties they fought for.”
SSAFA Ambassador, Dame Vera Lynn said:
“VE Day meant an end to nearly six years of a war which cost the lives of millions. To be a SSAFA Patron on the 75th anniversary is of huge importance to me as we remember all those involved.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
To search and find your local cinema screening of ‘VE Day 75’, visit www.veday75.co.uk.
Veteran Jim Radford’s number 1 single can be found at https://youtu.be/9X6WxLbTmok.
HM Government has moved the early May Bank Holiday to Friday 8 May to mark this anniversary.
SSAFA
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. Last year our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 82,000 people in need, from Second World War veterans to young men and women who have served in more recent conflicts, and their families. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC CONCERT ORCHESTRA
The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra (RPCO) is a dynamic and versatile ensemble which incorporates performances of a wide range of styles and genres across the UK and around the world. The Orchestra’s repertoire includes film music, computer video games scores, music from the musicals, symphonic arrangements of classic rock and pop songs as well as new commissions and the traditional core classical repertoire, reaching a wide and diverse audience of over 170,000 live listeners per year. The Orchestra’s creative partnerships with artists, promoters and producers has resulted in ambitious performances in venues from vast arenas to the small intimate setting of a double decker bus. The RPCO aims to reach as wide an audience as possible and is unafraid to explore new orchestral experiences.
MILITARY WIVES CHOIRS
Families of service personnel move around frequently and it can often be tough to put down roots or make new friends, which can leave women feeling isolated, particularly when loved ones are away for long periods of time. Research shows that singing in a choir helps to alleviate stress and contributes to an improvement in isolation, anxiety and depression. The Military Wives Choirs therefore have a vital role to play by bringing women in the military community together to sing, share and support one another. There are over 2,000 women with a military connection in 74 choirs based across the UK and in British military bases abroad, including Cyprus, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
SNAPPIN’ TURTLE & TBI MEDIA
‘VE Day 75’ is produced by Snappin’ Turtle and TBI Media, the producers behind the award-winning
‘D-Day 70’ at the Royal Albert Hall and other productions including ‘Battle of Britain 75’, ‘Dam Busters 75’ and ‘World Cup ‘66’.
CINEVENTS LTD
CinEvents is an Event Cinema distributor working with brands and content owners to bring exciting new events to cinema. By harnessing the power of cinema, CinEvents offers passionate fans the opportunity to see content they love, in a communal, local environment. By sourcing new content, connecting content producers with cinemas owners and offering end to end delivery and event support, CinEvents is helping to expand a rapidly growing area of the cinema industry. CinEvents is the cinema distributor for VE Day 75. For distribution enquiries please contact hello@cinevents.co.uk and for information on further events, please visit www.cinevents.co.uk
VE Day 75 Media Enquiries:
Royal Albert Hall
Michael Traboulsi: michael@snappinturtle.co.uk / 07753 842 441 and Sophie Thornton: sophie@snappinturtle.co.uk / 07495 870 484
Cinemas
Michelle Stevens: michelle@cinevents.co.uk / 07739 109 179
