Service to mark 60th anniversary of the end of World War II

On 9th July veterans and members of the public gathered for services of commemoration across the Diocese to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

At Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford hundreds of veterans paraded through Tom Quad. The Bishop of Dorchester preached the sermon [read].

Photos: Frank Blackwell

Elsewhere, bellringers also turned out in their droves to mark the anniversary. At the end of the war church bells rang out all over the country and, although the ban on bell ringing had been lifted in 1943, they weren’t rung again with gusto until 1945. Some of those present at the original end of war celebrations turned out to ring again – such as Bill Mitchell at Uffington.

Neville Parkin, on holiday from Hexham, was dug out of a camp site to make six for ringing at Aston Rowant. At Tilehurst the band rang a date touch of 1945 changes of Grandsire Triples and at Wantage call changes were rung for 25 minutes, in particular the call change Bow Bells as this was considered to be an appropriate reminder of the sound of Bow Bells in BBC broadcasts 60 years ago.

The ringing was also dedicated to those who lost their lives in the July 7 bombings in London.