VJ Day 80 - 15th August 2025

On Friday 15th August at 11.00am, RBL Branch President John B Robinson AFC* led the VJ Day 80 commemoration service at the War Memorial assisted by Rev. Tim Weeks.  The Service included the Kohima Epitaph, two minutes' silence and Reveille with the audience joining in with the hymn “I Vow to Thee my Country” and the National Anthem.

Silver Leys Scouts took it in turns to read a poem, "But we fought on..." organised by their Scout Leader and Standard Bearer Zoe Maidment. RBL Bishop's Stortford Branch Standard Bearer, Mark Thornewill, and RBL Women's Section Standard Bearer, Alison Mitchell, also did us proud, especially in the exceptional heat.

Wreath layers were: Hertfordshire Deputy Lieutenant Emma Robarts, Hertfordshire County Council Chairman Cllr. Laurence Brass, East Herts District Council Chairman Cllr. Martin Adams, Bishop's Stortford Town Mayor Cllr. Richard Townsend and RBL Bishop's Stortford Branch Chair Paul Vile.

Members of the Bishop's Stortford Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club attended together with other members of the Armed Forces past and present including 96-year-old Sawbridgeworth veteran Ernie Large, who served in the Royal Military Police (the Red Caps) with his twin, Fred.

We would like to thank everyone involved for making this a very special and memorable day.

Following the service, we had a VJ Day quiz at South Mill Arts where cream teas had been prepared for the interval. Our Treasurer, Jon Sellar, compiled and presented the quiz and Denise Hudson, whose father served in Burma, told the audience about VJ Day.