Honouring the 80th Anniversary of VE Day with Music and Memories

15.5.25

In honour of the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we recently hosted a touching and memorable musical event at Longbridge Deverill that brought residents, staff and community spirit together in a truly special way. The Activities and Wellbeing team worked thoughtfully to arrange a visit from “Chiantiamo”, a local choir with a heartfelt passion for performance. Their thoughtful setlist of wartime favourites brought back powerful memories, and many residents found themselves singing along, moved by the familiar words and melodies.

setup with red, white and blue decorations and cupcakes for VE day

local choir singing to residents in the stourhead unit

The choir kindly agreed to perform in each of the four communities within our home, ensuring that every resident had the chance to enjoy the experience. This inclusive approach meant that no one missed out on the joy and emotional impact of the event, and it allowed a real sense of unity to ripple through the home. Whether in quiet moments of reflection or in smiles shared during a well-loved chorus, the atmosphere was one of togetherness and remembrance.

While music was at the heart of the day, the purpose ran far deeper. It was an opportunity to reflect on a pivotal time in history and to acknowledge the lives shaped by those wartime years. For some, the songs brought back memories of service and sacrifice; for others, they recalled community, resilience and even romance. The emotional responses were clear to see, and many residents continued talking about the day well into the evening, with conversations naturally carrying on at mealtimes.

VE uniforms on display whilst the choir sings to residents

Through shared music and memories, residents were able to revisit important moments from their own lives and feel part of something larger than themselves. As staff, we felt proud and privileged to support them in honouring such a significant moment in our shared history

If you’d like to learn more about how we support meaningful moments and honour our residents’ life stories every day, we’d love to welcome you for a visit. Please contact our team to arrange a tour or have a chat about life at Longbridge Deverill.