PLANS are under way in Southampton to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War next year.
Street parties are at the heart of city council proposals for the commemoration day of both VE and VJ Day.
July 10 - which falls midway between both anniversaries - will see a service at May-flower Park and civic chiefs hope that the joyful street parties of 1945 will be recreated.
It will be the second of three commemoration days planned in Southampton. The anniversary of VE Day on May 8 will be marked with a service at the Cenotaph in West Park, followed by a march through the city to a flypast and naval tribute in Mayflower Park. The commemoration for VJ Day on August 15 will take place a day early on Sunday, August 14 with an assembly at the Cenotaph and a march to Lord Mountbatten's statue in Grosvenor Square.
The Southampton and District Burma Star Association which represents veterans who fought in the Far East believes there should be a later commemoration day for VJ Day, as the conflict with the Japanese in Burma continued until September 15 1945.
Association secretary Reg Goldsmith said: "We obviously have nothing against the celebrations at all, but we feel there's too much emphasis on VE Day and not enough on the real end of the war.
"They call them the forgotten army, although in my case it's the forgotten Navy and I suppose there's a forgotten air force as well."
Bob Knight, chairman of Hampshire's Royal British Legion which has more than 19,000 members, said they were happy to celebrate any day of commemoration.
He said: "We are going along with the council's plans so far. There will be street parties that we hope people who were there in 1945 will be able to attend. We are also trying to have church services at each street party."
Leisure and tourism boss Councillor Peter Wakeford said: "Southampton played a vital part in the war, and it is equally important that we continue to recognise everyone, not only those in the armed forces but those in the docks, the railways, aircraft production, the fire service, the ambulance service, the home guard and those who were bombed out of their work and home.
"We welcome suggestions from people who may have ideas for the commemorations."
Anyone with suggestions for marking this special anniversary should contact council tourism and events manager Dave Dilnot on 023 8083 2691 or e-mail him at david.dilnot@southampton.gov.uk.
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