Greenford resident Irene Bridges, who marked her 99th birthday at the end of last month (April 2025), was a special guest of the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day yesterday (8 May 2025).
Irene, who lives in Beechwood Avenue, Greenford was evacuated from London to Luton at the outbreak of WW2 in 1939 and five years later was called up to serve in the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
The veterans at the Arboretum, which is located in Staffordshire, enjoyed a Tea Party attended by Al Carns DSO OBE MC MP, Minister for Veterans, before a Service of Remembrance hosted by Baroness Floella Benjamin OM DBE.
The special service featured performances from singers Russell Watson, Carly Paola and Anthonia Edward’s, winner of The Voice UK, and the British Army Band Tidworth, as well as a flypast by a Spitfire and a Hurricane.
Irene said of attending the special event: “it was a very special occasion and I met some remarkable people. I also did three radio interviews and I’ve never had my photograph taken so many times”.
, was a special guest of the Royal British Legion at the National Memorial Arboretum for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day yesterday (8 May 2025).){kind=link}