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The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
The Windrush generations were proudly British. Yet immigrants are still fighting to be seen that way
This week I went to a Windrush Day reception in the gardens of 10 Downing Street. Standing in the brilliant sunshine, with a steelband tinkling away in the background, it was great to see this generation of Caribbean migrants finally being honoured as their bravery and enterprise deserves. The excited guests – Windrush-era Caribbean migrants, their friends and family – were thrilled to be at No 10, and the absolute highlight was being addressed by the prime minister, Keir Starmer. Fortunately on this occasion, he refrained from telling his guests that they were turning Britain into an 'island of strangers'. In any case, it would have been nonsense. Nobody identified more strongly with Britain than that generation, many of whom had a picture of Queen Elizabeth II on their living-room wall. When the Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury docks in Essex, its occupants did not see themselves as 'immigrants', but citizens of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth come to help rebuild the 'mother country' after the war. Most of the passengers gave their last country of residence as the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Trinidad, St Lucia, Grenada and Barbados. Some had served in the British armed forces, but others had responded to the British government advertisements for workers. While it is good to see the contribution of migrants to Britain in the postwar period commemorated, it is possible to get too sentimental about the Windrush era and forget the brutality of the racism they faced when they disembarked from those ships. They had been so very proud to come, but Britain's reception was cooler than they might have expected. One issue was employment. The Windrush era spanned from 1948 to the early 1970s, but the first Race Relations Act was not until 1965. So, in the early years of the Windrush era, employers could brazenly refuse to employ someone because they were black and not even pretend there was another reason. Accordingly, most Windrush migrants went into sectors hit by postwar labour shortages like transport or factory work. Windrush-era women often went into the NHS. It was not an easy way to make a living. Nurses, in particular, were often on permanent nights or put into grades where there was plenty of backbreaking work but no promotion. Instead, they had to train younger white nurses and watch them climb the ladder. Despite all that, they were hugely proud of their jobs. Some people nowadays like to talk about the pressure immigrants put on the public services. But my mother's generation helped to build the NHS. Another problem was housing. Windrush-era migrants owned their own homes to an extent that might seem remarkable now. But it was not because they earned a lot of money. They had little choice. Before the 1965 Race Relations Act, many councils simply would not let to black people. The private sector was even worse. A notorious slum landlord of the time was Peter Rachman, who would charge double or treble the normal rent. He specialised in Caribbean tenants because they could get so few mainstream landlords to rent to them. My father, like very many Caribbean migrants of the time, bought a house in what was then a shabby part of west London. He accumulated the deposit using an intra-community saving scheme called 'pardner'. But he paid the mortgage by having a tenant or a family in every room. We ourselves were in one room in that house with a cooker on the landing. When my father bought his house, there was an Irish family, headed by 'Uncle Jimmy', as sitting tenants in the basement. I don't think Uncle Jimmy had encountered a black baby before. When I was born, he promptly fell in love. Every morning, my mother would give me breakfast. Then she would take me down to Uncle Jimmy and he would give me another breakfast. In the Windrush era, black people were often the victims of violence by bad actors such as teddy boys or fascist organisations such as the BNP. There was a backdrop of fear. The Notting Hill race riots were the culmination of years of teddy boys attacking black people. My mother used to tell a story about teddy boys storming down our west London road. They knocked on every door and if they found a black family inside, they beat them up. My parents waited petrified as the noise of the teddy boys grew nearer. Then out from our basement emerged Uncle Jimmy. He said very firmly 'they are not getting our Diane' and when the teddy boys knocked on our door, he opened it. Seeing a white man, they assumed a white family lived inside and moved on to the next house. No one should ever underestimate the courage of the Windrush generation. Travelling from the Caribbean countryside to one of the biggest cities in the world in order to build a new life was an act of extraordinary daring. Nor could my parents, and that whole wave of Caribbean migrants who came here in the 1950s on the Empire Windrush and all the other ships, have ever guessed that their achievements would one day be celebrated with so many splendid events. Including a reception in the garden of 10 Downing Street. Diane Abbott has been the Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987 Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Who were the Windrush generation and what is Windrush Day?
Windrush Day has been held on 22 June since 2018, to celebrate the contribution Caribbean migrants and their families have made to the Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, Essex, in 1948, bringing hundreds of passengers from the Caribbean to the 2018, it emerged that the government had not properly recorded the details of people granted permission to stay in the UK, and many were wrongly mistreated. What is the Windrush generation? HMT Empire Windrush became a symbol of a wider mass-migration in the Caribbean were invited to the UK to help rebuild post-war to the National Archives, which holds the ship's passenger list, there were 1,027 people on board. More than 800 gave their last country of residence as somewhere in the hundred passengers were Jamaican, but others arrived from islands including Trinidad, St Lucia, Grenada and travellers - and those on other ships which came to the UK until 1971 - became known as the Windrush had served in the British armed forces in World War Two. Why did the Windrush generation come to Britain? In 1948, the British Nationality Act gave people from colonies the right to live and work in government needed workers to help fill post-war labour shortages and rebuild the countries were also struggling economically, and job vacancies in the UK offered an of those who came became manual workers, drivers, cleaners, and nurses in the newly established NHS. What is Windrush Day? Commemoration events have been held on 22 June every year since 2023, the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Windrush was marked with a series of concerts, exhibitions and seminars across the Charles, who held a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark the anniversary, hailed the Windrush generation's "profound and permanent contribution to British life".This year will see events taking place around the country, including a number sponsored by the government's Windrush Day Grant Scheme. Where are the Windrush generation now? It is unclear how many people from the Windrush generation are still in the UK, but the number is thought to be in the are among more than 500,000 UK residents who were born in a Commonwealth country and arrived before 1971, according to University of Oxford estimates. What was the Windrush scandal? The 1971 Immigration Act gave Commonwealth citizens living in the UK indefinite leave to remain - the permanent right to live and work in the included the Windrush generation, but also people from other former British colonies in South Asia and Africa. However, in April 2018, it emerged that the UK Home Office had kept no records of those granted permission to stay, and had not issued the paperwork they needed to confirm their had also destroyed landing cards belonging to Windrush migrants, in affected were unable to prove they were in the country legally and were prevented from accessing healthcare, work and were also threatened with deportation.A review of historical cases also found that at least 83 people who had arrived before 1973 had been wrongly deported. What did the government do about the Windrush scandal? In April 2018, then-Prime Minister Theresa May apologised for the treatment of those affected. An inquiry was announced and a compensation scheme inquiry, which reported in March 2020, said that the scandal was both "foreseeable and avoidable", and criticised "a culture of disbelief and carelessness" in the Home made 30 recommendations, including:a full Home Office review of the UK's "hostile environment" immigration policyappointing a migrants' commissionerestablishing a race advisory boardInquiry author Wendy Williams warned there was a "grave risk" of similar problems happening again without government Secretary Priti Patel accepted the recommendations in full. But in January 2023, then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced the Home office was dropping three of the commitments:to appoint a migrants' commissioner responsible for "speaking up for migrants and those affected by the system directly or indirectly"to give the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration new powersto hold events with people affected to "listen and reflect on their stories"The High Court later ruled that Ms Braverman acted unlawfully by dropping the measures relating to a migrants' commissioner and the chief inspector of borders and June 2025, the Reverend Clive Foster was appointed as the first Windrush Commissioner - seven years after the scandal was first exposed.A top priority will be looking at how to improve the Windrush Compensation Scheme which has been described by campaigners as "torturous". How does the Windrush Compensation Scheme work? The Windrush Compensation Scheme was established in April 2019, and about 15,000 people were thought to be the scheme has been consistently criticised for processing delays, low offers, and unfair rejections reversed on 2021, MPs found the scheme had itself become a further trauma for those eligible. The Home Affairs Committe said many of those affected were "still too fearful of the Home Office to apply".In April 2023, Human Rights Watch said the scheme was "failing" victims, and repeated calls for it to be removed from the Home Office's response, the Home Office said it was "committed to righting the wrongs of Windrush".In October 2024, Labour Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced an additional £1.5m of funding to help victims apply for of April 2025, the scheme had paid out more than £110m.
Winnipeg Free Press
10-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ex-U.K. soldier sentenced to prison for ‘vicious assault' that killed Winnipeg man in Toronto bar
TORONTO — A former British soldier who delivered three lethal elbows to the head of a Winnipeg entrepreneur in a Toronto bar was sentenced to four years and three months in prison Tuesday. 'This was a vicious assault with tragic consequences,' Superior Court Justice Katherine Corrick said during sentencing in a downtown Toronto courtroom. Craig Gibson, 30, was taken into custody late last month. He showed no emotion as he stood up with his arms outstretched, waiting to be handcuffed and taken back to prison. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Brett Sheffield On Aug. 28, 2023, Gibson, then a corporal with the British Armed Forces, had just completed a reconnaissance competition in Thunder Bay and was in Toronto on his way home to England. Brett Sheffield, 38, and some of his employees from Pilot Mound-based NextGen Drainage Solutions,were in Toronto on a business trip. Both men and their friends went to Locals Only Bar on King Street West that night. Surveillance footage showed the two groups interacting good-naturedly with each other while consuming copious amounts of alcohol. A disagreement arose, however, and after heated words, Gibson elbowed Sheffield three times in the head. Officers responded to the incident at 11:25 p.m. that night and 'life-saving measures were commenced on scene,' but the victim died two days later in hospital, the Toronto Police Service said at the time. A Toronto jury convicted Gibson of manslaughter in December, rejecting his testimony that he was acting in self-defence because he believed Sheffield was carrying a knife. The judge said Tuesday that what happened that evening was not 'a one-punch manslaughter,' nor a bar fight. Gibson struck Sheffield 'without warning' and had to be pulled away by others. She called Gibson 'a strong and powerful man.' He testified he grew up in a rough part of Scotland 'where you did not make it through school if you did not know how to handle yourself. And he knew how to handle himself.' He had been living in England with his fiancée and infant daughter while on bail. When he was 21, Gibson joined the British army and served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Kosovo. While Gibson was dishonourably discharged, his British Army superiors submitted letters of support to the court. They described him as a disciplined, dependable soldier who has acted as an instructor and mentor to junior colleagues. As a result of the conviction and sentence, he has lost any chance of realizing his lifelong goal of serving as a member of the SAS, an elite special forces unit in the British army. There is no minimum sentence for manslaughter, and the maximum is life imprisonment. Prosecutors had asked for a six-and-a-half-year sentence. Defence lawyers recommended a sentence of between two and three years. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. Corrick also addressed the impact Sheffield's death has had on his loved ones, 'who continue to struggle with profound grief and the immense hole that's been left in their lives.' During the sentencing hearing last month, Sheffield was described in victim impact statements as a successful entrepreneur who was gentle, compassionate and generous, the kind of person who would take a homeless man to a restaurant and buy him coffee and pie. His 96-year-old grandmother wrote the family 'will never get over his tragic, cruel, unnecessary death.' Sheffield's fiancée wrote that not only has she lost her best friend, lover and confidant, but her two children have been robbed of their hero. — Toronto Star
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kilmarnock FC sign Armed Forces Convenant at poignant ceremony
The club reaffirmed their respect and support for those who serve and have served in the British Armed Forces Kilmarnock Football Club has formally signed the the Armed Forces Covenant, reaffirming the club's long-standing respect and support for the men and women who serve, or have served, in the British Armed Forces. The poignant ceremony took place in the club's 1869 Suite and was attended by representatives of East Ayrshire Council, including Provost Claire Leitch, and several dignitaries from the Armed Forces community. The event was hosted by Club Ambassador Raymond Montgomerie, who welcomed guests with a heartfelt tribute to the club's enduring connection to the Armed Forces, dating back over a century. 'On behalf of all the directors and staff at Kilmarnock Football Club, I'd like to offer you a warm welcome to Rugby Park for this important occasion,' said Montgomerie. 'Signing the Armed Forces Covenant is not just a formality – it's a promise. A promise that this club will stand beside our Armed Forces community, not just in word but in action.' Montgomerie spoke movingly about the club's wartime legacy, recalling how Rugby Park was requisitioned by the government during WWII to serve as a munitions dump, and how the club gave a £1,000 interest-free loan to the war effort – never repaid, but never regretted. 'This club gave more than just players to the front lines,' he said. 'We gave our ground, our resources, our support – and, sadly, we lost some of our own who played for this badge before fighting for their country. That history is not forgotten here. It's part of who we are.' A particularly emotional highlight of the day was the presentation of the Colonel's Certificate, awarded by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, to Jock Murdoch, a 99-year-old former Kilmarnock goalkeeper and one of only four surviving Scots Guardsmen from WWII. The award was presented by Eddie Edmonstone, Chairman of the Scots Guards Association, and Colin Downie in honour of Mr Murdoch's exceptional service. 'Jock isn't just a former Killie player – he's a hero,' Montgomerie said. 'At 99 years old, he represents a generation whose courage and resilience shaped our world. It was a true privilege to welcome him back to Rugby Park and to recognise his service.' Guests then moved to the club's Memorial Garden, established in 2021 to honour the former players killed in the World Wars. Rev James McNay, Club Chaplain, led a solemn service before returning to the 1869 Suite for the signing ceremony. The official signing of the Armed Forces Covenant was conducted by Club Directors Billy Bowie, Phyllis Carroll, and Cathy Jamieson, signalling the club's ongoing commitment to supporting veterans, reservists, and their families. Councillor Jim Todd, East Ayrshire Council's Armed Forces Champion and a Royal Navy veteran, emphasised the impact of the Covenant: 'This is about recognition, respect, and responsibility. For far too long, our Armed Forces community served without expecting thanks. The Covenant changes that – and by signing it today, Kilmarnock FC shows what true community leadership looks like.' Montgomerie closed the event with one final reflection: 'We're more than just a football club. We're a part of this town's fabric, and part of its legacy. That includes the proud tradition of service to our country. Today we reaffirm that we don't forget – and we do care.'
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The five word remark Kate Middleton made to Princess Charlotte about dad William at the VE Day flypast is revealed by lip reader
As the royal family enjoyed the spectacular VE Day parade on Monday afternoon, all eyes were on the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children. Prince Louis, seven, excitedly watched the planes going overhead while Prince George, 11, looked on engrossed and Princess Charlotte, 10, showed a keen interest as they all gathered in front of Buckingham Palace. As soldiers marched on, eagle-eyed fans were no doubt quick to spot the family engrossed in conversation - and now a lip reader has revealed the adoring comment Kate made to her daughter during the festivities. The professional shared a sweet exchange between the two, revealing that the Duchess of Cambridge said to Charlotte: 'Doesn't Papa look smart today'. William was dressed in military uniform for the events of the day which included a parade in tribute to veterans at Buckingham Palace before heading up to the balcony for the flypast. He's eligible to wear the uniform after his stint in the British Armed Forces - specifically, the RAF. Elsewhere, before the Red Arrows took to the skies, Prince William encouraged his youngest child to pay close attention. According to the lip reader he said: 'It's not going to be long and I want you to be taking an interest,' before explaining the parade route and telling him he would never forget the historic day. And fellow lip-reader Nicola Hickling also revealed, in the excitement of the day, Prince Louis recreated the 'chatter chatter chatter' sound made by the planes as he took in the VE Day festivities on the balcony at Buckingham palace later that afternoon. The expert said that Louis made his verdict on the celebrations clear when chatting with his family - and revealed his 'favourite' plane. She claimed that at one point, the Prince of Wales asked: 'Do you know what it is' while looking up at the sky. His eldest son, George, is thought to have replied: 'No but I do know it's got two way four engines.' To this, William reportedly said 'exactly', and later, seemingly pointing out another plane, added: 'That must be Britannia.' At this point young Louis chimed in to say: 'That's my favourite.' And when the stunning fly-past was over, leaving red, white and blue smoke in it's wake Louis is thought to have remarked: 'Look at all of the colours!' Animated Louis has continued to delight royal well-wishers with his antics as he enjoyed looking at the fly-past The young prince continued to delight fans with his animated presence. At one point, his mother, the Princess of Wales, looked over him affectionately, while Prince George appeared to confer with his father, Prince William. The display involving the Red Arrows and a score of historic and current military aircraft was the culmination of the military procession through London as the four-day VE celebrations began. Earlier in the day, Louis shared an adorable moment with William - and kept his father looking sharp as he brushed down his uniform at Buckingham Palace. The young royal, who turned seven just a few weeks ago, took his seat next to the future King, 43, at the Palace ahead of a celebration to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. As he sat down next to his father, who donned his military uniform, cheeky Louis turned to William and began to brush down the shoulder of his military jacket. The young royal, sat alongside his parents and his older siblings Charlotte and George to watch the parade held on Bank Holiday Monday. As the youngest Wales child, known for his playful antics at public events, helped to sharpen up his father, he was also pictured tugging on part of the uniform. And in typical Louis fashion, he also playfully stuck out his tongue while waiting for the action to begin. When Prince William, who was sat next to his youngest, pointed something out to Louis, the youngest Wales family member was quick to recreate his father's gesture. Cheeky Louis was in high spirits as he pulled some very animated facial expressions on the balcony Happy Louis faced his mother as he appeared to chat to her about the planes while they observed from the balcony Louis was very excitedly taking in the planes overhead as he joined his mother, father and siblings The young prince laughed along with his mother as the family observed the fly-past from the balcony Louis also tugged on his father's uniform as the pair sat in the front row of the specially made dias at Buckingham Palace He was later seen clutching a fuzzy brown hot water bottle on what has been a significantly colder, overcast day in London than the past week, with temperatures plummeting to 14 degrees. Also in attendance at the parade were King Charles and Queen Camilla, who donned a royal blue coat dress, as the royal family watched commemorations marking the end of the Second World War in Europe. The royals observed a military procession from a specially built dais on the Queen Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace while thousands of people packed the streets as four days of commemorations began. Kate was pictured arriving in a car with Charlotte and Louis at about 11.45am, while Charles and Camilla waved to the crowds from another vehicle shortly after before the royals took their seats. Hundreds of street parties are also being held across the country while formal military events take place in London, with the procession involving 1,300 members of the Armed Forces from Parliament Square to the Mall. This will be followed by the Royal Family watching a flypast of iconic Royal Air Force planes from the palace balcony, before Charles hosts a tea party for some of the last living heroes of the conflict as well as their families. The plans were long in place before Harry said his 'devastating' loss in the Court of Appeal, which rejected his bid to reinstate his round-the-clock police bodyguard in the UK, meant his family could never return to Britain. Harry claimed in a dramatic BBC television interview last Friday that his father Charles will not speak to him and he does not know 'how much longer my father has' as he spoke of his hopes for a 'reconciliation' with his family. The Duke described his court defeat as a 'good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up', but his decision to speak out appears to have worsened the chances of an end to his estrangement, amid suggestions the King and his brother William will fear more than ever that any conversation with Harry would end up in the public domain. Meanwhile, Harry's wife Meghan Markle earlier posted a photo of him and their children in an apparent show of solidarity. The black and white image, which was not accompanied by a message on Meghan's Instagram, showed Harry, from behind, walking with Princess Lilibet on his shoulders and Prince Archie holding his hand in a garden. Today, Buckingham Palace hopes the position of senior royals at the forefront of VE Day commemorations will refocus attention on their unifying role and positive contribution to public life, as opposed to Harry's latest salvos. It is understood that, for the surviving veterans' sake, the 'fervent hope' is that nothing will detract or distract from 'celebrating with full cheer and proud hearts that precious victory and those brave souls, on this most special and poignant of anniversaries'. A palace aide said: 'The King, Queen and other members of The Royal Family are much looking forward to all the week's VE Day events, when they will unite with the rest of the nation and those across the Commonwealth and wider world in celebrating, commemorating and giving thanks to the wartime generation whose selfless devotion duty and service should stand as an enduring example to us all – and must never be forgotten.' Charles was wearing Naval Uniform No.1 dress, with no medals or decorations, as his grandfather King George VI wore on the palace balcony on VE Day in 1945 – while William wore RAF No.1 Uniform. A little too much for a young prince! Louis tried and failed to stifle a yawn as a concerned Prince William watched on The young prince, who turned seven last month, delighted royal fans with his antics in the front row Prince William was sat next to his youngest son Louis, who recently celebrated his seventh birthday Louis tilted his head back and faced the sky, showing off his gapped teeth after having lost his baby teeth recently The royal Wales children dutifully waved to the crowd as they sat in the front row of the armed forces and veterans' parade As Prince Louis sat next to his father Prince William, 43, he had made sure the future King was looking prim and proper The royals sat in the front row of the audience to watch the procession. L-R: Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince Louis, Prince William The Wales children looked serious as they watched the parade while their parents beamed The royal family looked regal with some members in military uniform as they arrived at Buckingham Charlotte walked alongside the Duchess of Edinburgh as she arrived at the palace The Princess of Wales arrives in Westminster this morning with Princess Charlotte (left) and Prince Louis (right) Military personnel take up their positions in Parliament Square this morning ahead of the military procession for VE Day 80 Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment ahead of the military procession through Central London today Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch (left) ahead of the military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London Camilla was dressed in a sapphire blue wool crepe dress and coat, by Fiona Clare, with the 12th Royal Lancers Brooch, the regiment of her late father Major Bruce Shand. The Duke of Edinburgh wore Army No.2 Service Dress of the Scots Guards, while Duke of Kent wore Field Marshal No.2 Service Dress. Princess Anne, who was also present, wore the uniform of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps) with no decorations. The late Queen Elizabeth II, as Princess Elizabeth, wore the military uniform for her palace balcony appearance on VE Day 1945 as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Services. Nato allies will join 1,300 members of the armed forces for a procession in the city, and the words of Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech will be spoken by actor Timothy Spall to kick off events for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. In Whitehall the Cenotaph was draped in a large Union flag, with the south and north face of the landmark covered. It is the first time the war memorial has been draped in Union flags since it was unveiled by King George V more than a century ago, in 1920. Crowds started to gather on The Mall this morning, with some arriving the day before to secure a good viewing spot. Caroline Tomlinson, 59, travelled from Doncaster to witness the parade and camped overnight. Dressed in Union flags, she said: 'I've been watching lots of footage from 1945 when everybody was gathering outside the palace, so just great to be a part of it here we are again 80 years later to do the very same. I got here at 2pm yesterday afternoon, sat in the red chair all night, had a little bit of sleep. Read More How can I see the Red Arrows' iconic flypast? Map reveals when and where planes will be visible 'I'm used to this, I've been to the other events. I've been to the Platinum Jubilee, the Coronation, the Queen's funeral, Royal weddings. Sleeping over is now my thing. It was very cold but I dressed accordingly and got through it. Slept about three times in one-hour bursts. 'I came here alone, the community is always so lovely. I'm absolutely hoping to catch a glimpse of the Royals.' Michael Burn, 67, arrived at The Mall outside Buckingham Palace this morning. Dressed head to toe in a Union flag suit he said: 'Obviously I'm very patriotic so I make the most of any of these events, the coronation or anything like that I'll be here. 'I think we've been very lucky that we've had 80 years of peace and these are very troubled times at the moment and we've got to think about all those that have the ultimate sacrifice and there's very few of them left now because they're all over 100. This is the last time we will celebrate the day in this sort of scale.' Speaking of his suit and holding a seven foot Union flag he said: 'I bought this for the London 2012 Olympics and have worn it at every Royal event since. 'I can still get into it,' he joked. Lizzie McCrae MacIntyre, a retired Women's Royal Air Force veteran, arrived at the Admiralty Arch at 4am to see the parade. Ms MacIntyre, who travelled from Surrey, said: 'It's so important to remember those that didn't make it home. My dad was military, my brother was Air Force.' Geoffrey York, 71, said: 'We are all ex-military.' Members of The Blues and Royals Squadron of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment ahead of the procession today Ukrainian soldiers take up their position in Parliament Square this morning ahead of the military procession in London Members of the military march near Parliament Squareahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day Members of the Band of the Household Cavalry ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day today The flags of Commonwealth countries are brought into Parliament Square ahead of the military procession today Members of the Ukrainian military march past Parliament Square this morning to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment ahead of the military procession through Central London today Police officers walk down The Mall this morning ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran, is starting the procession in London today and marching down Whitehall Police officers are briefed this morning ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London Members of the Royal Navy march past Parliament Square in London this morning to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day Members of the Household Cavalry on The Mall near Buckingham Palace in London this morning ahead of the procession The Princess Royal arrives at Buckingham Palace today for the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day Members of the military march past Parliament Square in London this morning to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day The Household Cavalry veteran said: 'We were here for the coronation, we camped out for three nights for the Queen's funeral. It's a big day for us to pay our respects. My dad was a prisoner of war in Tobruk, Libya. He escaped in 1944.' Two women gathered outside Buckingham Palace made their own dresses for the occasion. Red Arrows route for VE Day 80 flypast today LINCOLNSHIRE RAF Waddington: 1.05pm West of Martin: 1.07pm South of Great Hale: 1.09pm NORFOLK Oversea: 1.18pm to 1.32pm SUFFOLK Vicinity of Woodbridge: 1.35pm ESSEX Vicinity of Colchester: 1.39pm Vicinity of Woodford: 1.46pm LONDON Olympic Park: 1.47pm Buckingham Palace: 1.48pm Vicinity of Brentford: 1.50pm SURREY East of Mickleham: 1.52pm HAMPSHIRE South East of Beach: 1.58pm South of Longstock: 2.01pm Bournemouth Airport: 2.06pm Grace Gothard, from Ghana, describing her Union flag dress, said: 'I made this dress personally. So anytime there's any royal occasion I make my own dresses. It took two weeks to make. 'The last one was the King's coronation and that dress is in a museum now. Satvinder Cubb, wearing a dress which reads Lest We Forget, added: 'I also made my dress. I had a Union flag one before but this year I wanted something simple to represent all the soldiers that actually fought. It took just a few hours to make because it's actually two flags joined together. And I don't have a sewing machine so it was all by hand.' The pair met at the Queen's jubilee and have attended royal events together in handmade dresses ever since. They arrived at The Mall at 6am this morning. Ms Cubb added: 'I know people who have actually fought in the war. I have a very close friend, he's 94 and was 14 at the time. It's just about thanking them all. We're here for a reason and have freedom now. It's important for us to be a part of it.' One group of women gathered outside the palace have brought along song sheets to pass out to the crowd. They practised singing their songs ahead of the parade. Mandy Ellis, 67, from the Midlands, said: 'We do all the royal events. I've been doing this 60 years now. We all get the gang together - there's seven of us come down. The oldest is my Auntie Linda, she's 87. My daughter Cara, she's the youngest.' Wearing a Union flag hat, she said: 'I sing in the local choir, we've had some song sheets over the years for different events so I just adapted them at home. We've got everything from Land of Hope and Glory, We'll Meet Again, Pack Up Your Troubles, the National Anthem. 'It's the smallest thing we can do to say thank you for 80 years of peace and the sacrifice everyone made.' David Smith, a military royal engineer from 1960 to 1972, travelled from Lincolnshire yesterday to honour the veterans at the parade. The 79-year-old said: 'It's about patriotism. It's what we do.' Mr Smith has marched at the Cenotaph for 26 years and will watch the parade today from The Mall. His wife Muriel said: 'Where we live in Lincolnshire, the 'bomber county', there is always a bomber base five miles from you. There's still air raid shelters where we live.' About the parade, the 77-year-old said: 'I just love the songs, the ceremony, everything. I've heard some stories about Victory Day. Some naughty stories!' Maria Crook, 69, travelled from Devon to London yesterday and set up to watch the procession from Whitehall early this morning. Members of the Household Cavalry Regiment parade on The Mall this morning ahead of the military procession Actor Timothy Spall during rehearsals for his reading of Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech in London this morning Members of the military march past Parliament Square in London this morning to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran, is starting the procession in London today and marching down Whitehall Members of the Royal Horse Artillery make their way down The Mall ahead of the military procession in London today Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment this morning ahead of the military procession in Central London Members of the public wait near Parliament Square in London today ahead of a procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day Members of the Household Division parade on The Mall ahead of the military procession through London today Ukrainian soldiers take up their position in Parliament Square this morning ahead of the military procession in London Members of the Household Cavalry Regiment parade on The Mall this morning ahead of the military procession Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran, is starting the procession in London today and marching down Whitehall Members of the Royal Horse Artillery on The Mall ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day Members of the public ahead of the military procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Buckingham Palace today Union flags are flown ahead of the procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day on The Mall near Buckingham Palace today Ukrainian soldiers take up their position in Parliament Square this morning ahead of the military procession in London Michael Burn (right), 67, from Watford, joins the crowds at The Mall today. Dressed head to toe in a Union flag suit he said: 'Obviously I'm very patriotic so I make the most of any of these events, the coronation or anything like that I'll be here' 'I think it's extremely important to pay our respects and honour those who have died for us,' she said. The 69-year-old, wearing a hat with red, white and blue ribbons tied to it, sat near the Cenotaph and attached a large Union flag with silhouettes of paratroopers on it to the barriers in front of her. Six waves for the RAF flypast today Wave 1: Lancaster from The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Wave 2: Voyager; A400M Atlas Wave 3: C-17 Globemaster Wave 4: P8 Poseidon MRA1; two Typhoon FGR4s Wave 5: Rivet Joint; two F-35B Lightnings Wave 6: Nine Hawks from the Red Arrows; four Typhoon FGR4s She said: 'I came for VE Day in 2005 and the atmosphere was fantastic. I'm going to dash down to Buckingham Palace after I've seen the procession. I want to get a great view of the Red Arrows and hopefully see Charles too.' Groups of cadets and scouts also gathered on the path closest to the Queen Victoria Memorial and posed for group photos with Buckingham Palace in the background. Lesley Watson and her friend David came to Whitehall to witness the parade. David, who did not wish to be fully named, said: 'We are here to show the veterans who are on the parade that we support them and we will carry on the tradition.' David, who worked in the Royal Navy for 12 years, wore medals he received for his time working in what was then called Yugoslavia from 1993 to 1995. Ms Watson, whose father joined the East Surrey Tower Corps during the Second World War when he was 17, stressed the importance of remembering veterans. 'My father is not alive now but he would have been 97,' she said. Laura Bill, a 1940s re-enactor from Staffordshire, said: 'I just love the celebration of it all.' The Bill family, who all dressed in 1940s-style clothing for the parade, travelled for three hours to Buckingham Palace. 'We've done reenactments all over the country. We shop at vintage shops a lot. There are traders at events who we buy clothes from. Today is about coming together, and I'm so excited for it.' Jacqueline Bill, Laura's mother, said: 'It's great to do this as a family. It's more of a social thing. We know a woman who collects 1940s wedding dresses, we're hoping to meet up with her later.' Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes, who is in charge of the VE Day military procession, said the participation of Ukrainian and Nato troops is a reminder that 'allies really do matter'. The Princess Royal arrives at Buckingham Palace today for the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day Members of the public on the street ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London today People gather on The Mall this morning ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran, is starting the procession in London today and marching down Whitehall Volunteer police cadets gather ahead of the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London today People gather on The Mall this morning ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London Military personnel near Parliament Square today ahead of the procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day today Muriel Smith, 77, and her husband David Smith, 79, a military royal engineer from 1960 to 1972, join crowds on The Mall today People gather on The Mall this morning ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London The Cenotaph on Whitehall is dressed in the Union flag as final preparations are made ahead of the military procession today People gather on The Mall this morning ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London Scouts gather ahead of the military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London this morning Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran, is starting the procession in London today and marching down Whitehall He told BBC Breakfast that it is 'right' for Ukrainian and Nato troops to take part in the procession in London. He said: 'Eighty years ago we were stronger together and today we are stronger together, and it's just a reminder for us that allies really do matter and it's nice for them to be able to take part.' Calling veterans the 'VVIPs', he added: 'Today is very much their day and we're very proud to be able to honour them.' Sir Keir Starmer said the week's events are a reminder that victory was 'not just for Britain' as personnel from the US, France and Germany will be among those joining the military procession in London. In an open letter to veterans, the Prime Minister said: 'VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid.' He also praised military veterans past and present for their 'ongoing dedication to keeping our country safe' and said the sacrifice made by members of the Armed Forces was a 'debt that can never fully be repaid' . Sir Keir wrote: 'I want to salute your ongoing dedication to keeping our country safe. Missing birthdays, weddings, anniversaries. Not being there in the photographs. This week, the country will show you just how thankful we all are. Because we know that without your service, the freedom, peace and joy that these celebrations embody would not be possible.' He said VE Day represented 'a victory for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil. VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid'. Members of the public draped in flags ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London today Police officers guard The Mall this morning ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day People gather on The Mall this morning ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London Actor Timothy Spall during rehearsals for his reading of Sir Winston Churchill's 1945 victory speech in London this morning Members of the Household Division stand near Parliament Square in London today ahead of the military procession Police officers guard The Mall this morning ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran, is starting the procession in London today and marching down Whitehall Members of the public wait near Parliament Square in London today ahead of a procession for the 80th anniversary of VE Day People gather on The Mall this morning ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day in London Military personnel near Parliament Square today ahead of the procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day today Police officers guard The Mall this morning ahead of a military procession marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day Members of the Household Division stand near Parliament Square in London today ahead of the military procession Sir Keir also then said in a post on X this morning that the Government is 'giving veterans better access to housing, employment, health and welfare support'. Alan Kennett, a 100-year-old Normandy veteran, will start the procession in London which is set to march down Whitehall, through Admiralty Arch and up The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Read More EXCLUSIVE 'It's a rather giant f*** you.' Royal insider's furious reaction to Meghan's Instagram salvo Thirty further veterans are to attend official events today, including 26 who will watch the procession in London. The list includes Royal Navy veteran Albert Keir, 99; Royal Engineers veteran Alfred Littlefield, aged 101; RAF veteran Bernard Morgan, 101; Army veterans Arthur Oborne, 99, and Tom Stonehouse, 99; and Royal Marines veteran Francis James Grant, 99; who all served during D-Day. The Nato detachment, which will also include personnel from Poland, Lithuania and Sweden, will march in the procession wearing the uniforms of their respective nations under the Nato flag. Representatives of the Ukrainian military, selected from the UK armed forces' training programme for Ukrainian recruits Operation Interflex, will also take part. The procession begins after Mr Kennett receives the Commonwealth War Graves' Torch For Peace by air cadet Warrant Officer Emmy Jones. Members of the Royal Family will later make an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the RAF flypast. In 1945, large crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Prince Harry caused ructions with his lengthy BBC interview last Friday in response to losing his Court of Appeal challenge The Duchess of Sussex posted a photo of her husband Harry and their children on Instagram in an apparent show of solidarity The young Princess Elizabeth sneaked out into the streets to join the celebrating crowds and later spoke of being swept up in a 'tide of happiness and relief'. Following Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022, this year will be the first landmark VE Day commemoration without any of the royals who stood on the balcony that day. Read More Top Tory brands Harry 'entitled' as Palace source 'says deluded Duke has lost touch with reality' The director general of the Royal British Legion said today that many veterans taking part in commemorations have not told their stories before. Mark Atkinson told BBC Breakfast: 'We want to make sure that all of our veterans are at the very heart of these commemorations so we put the call out to invite people to step forward, to share their experiences, to tell their stories and to be here today at Buckingham Palace for the start of what is a week of commemorations and celebrations. 'But so many people coming forward having never really shared in any detail their experiences of the Second World War so we're delighted to put them right at the centre of these commemorations.' Mr Atkinson said RBL is supporting 30 veterans at Buckingham Palace today, aged between 98 and 104. 'It will be one of the last opportunities that we all have to thank those veterans and their families for their service,' he continued. 'And hearing that first hand is incredibly important. It will soon be a historical fact - those stories and those voices and those experiences won't be heard in the same way.' Street parties will be held in towns and cities across the UK as part of the special events - including community tea parties, 1940s dress-up events, and gatherings aboard Second World War warships. Local authorities throughout the country have offered support for communities and organisations wishing to hold a VE Day street party, with some councils such as Portsmouth waiving fees to close roads for the celebrations. The Palace of Westminster, the Shard, Lowther Castle in Penrith, Manchester Printworks, Cardiff Castle and Belfast City Hall are among hundreds of buildings which will be lit up from 9pm tomorrow. A new display of almost 30,000 ceramic poppies at the Tower of London is also set to form another touching tribute. The poppies have been set to resemble a wound to reflect the long-lasting sacrifices made during the war. A service at Westminster Abbey will begin with a national two-minute silence of reflection and remembrance on Thursday, where veterans will be part of the congregation. Horse Guards Parade will then hold a live celebratory concert to round off the commemorations. Pubs and bars have also been granted permission to stay open for longer to mark the anniversary. Venues in England and Wales which usually close at 11pm will be able to keep serving for an extra two hours to celebrate on Thursday. Churches and cathedrals across the country will ring their bells as a collective act of thanksgiving at 6.30pm, echoing the sounds that swept across the country in 1945, the Church of England said.
