The VE Day 80 service at the Broadway, Sandown

Bishop Jonathan and Sandown’s Christ Church led a VE Day 80 commemorative service at Sandown’s Broadway, with readings from the Island’s Lord-Lieutenant, Susie Sheldon, High Sheriff, Jacque Gazzard, and Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat’s padre, Rev Jim Izzard.

Island MPs, Richard Quigley and Joe Robertson, joined a congregation that included WWII veteran, Alec Penstone, the chairman and vice-chairman of the IW Council, Cllrs Karl Love and Vanessa Churchman, the mayors of Sandown and Shanklin, and the chairman of Lake Parish Council.

The service included a two-minute silence, with the Exhortation read by ex-serviceman, Frank Baldry, and the Last Post, played by bugler, Stuart Kent. Sandown & Shanklin Military Band played Abide With Me and the National Anthem, and a special arrangement of Memories of Rifleman Harris, composed by Frank Blackwell, before the service.

Bishop Jonathan’s sermon paid tribute to the sacrifices made during the 1939-45 conflict, recognising how all of us can serve others, and he singled out the service given by Alec Penstone and his generation, at home and overseas.

Pupils from The Bay CE School read the VE Day 80 Proclamation, with Gary Ashley, from the Royal British Legion, acting as Standard Bearer.

Local councillors then joined Rev Mark Williams, and church-warden, Alec Weaver, in honouring the events of 1945.

Following the service, Roger Barcham, conductor of the band, presented the Bishop and Lord-Lieutenant with specially bound copies of the score of Memories of Rifleman Harris.