Bolton Library and Museum Service is asking people to celebrate this week’s 75th anniversary of VE Day online and ‘Stay Safe at Home’.
After five years of war, on the 8 May 1945, Britain and the Allied forces accepted Germany’s surrender.
The Victory in Europe Day effectively heralded the end of the Second World War and sparked a mass celebration across nations with huge crowds of people taking to the streets cheering.
The Library and Museum Service is helping people explore what it was like for people during the war and how they celebrated VE Day.
A spokesman said: “Now 75 years on and we are in lockdown in a war against Covid-19 but we have celebration tips suitable for people of all ages to mark VE Day.
“You’ll be able to discover more about Second World War art in the museum’s collection, look at the fashions of the time, get interesting recipes and add details of your Bolton military ancestors to the virtual memorial ‘Bolton Remembers’.”
Everyone is being invited to become part of Bolton’s evolving history by joining in the Covid-19 Documentary project, where people, especially children, can send in their journal/ diary entries or pictures of their lockdown experience.
That will mean that in in years to come future generations can see what our lives were like. If you take part in the documentary project look out for a special event in future.
The project is inspired by the Mass Observation Archive of 1937 and 1940, which saw a team of observers, led by an anthropologist called Tom Harrisson, study all aspects of life in Bolton.
They ranged from shopping at the open market to spectators at a Bolton Wanderers match. The project uncovered what children’s views were about their hobbies, games, how they saw each other and the adults around them.
Everyone in the borough is being asked to capture what happens in their house on Friday May 8. Details are to be posted on the Bolton Libraries and Museums’ social media channels about what’s happening during the rest of the week.
Bolton Council’s deputy leader Martyn Cox said: “It may be tempting to celebrate VE Day as they did after the war and party in the streets, but our war against Covid-19 continues and we must celebrate safely and maintain social distancing.
“Bolton Libraries and Museums have put together a wide range of online resources to help celebrate the day so tune in on their social media channels and find out some great ways to enjoy it.”
People can access free eBooks, eAudio books and eMagazines with the At Home with Bolton Library and Museum Services. If you’re not a member you can also join online at www.boltonlams.co.uk/