Walpole Park in Ealing was the site of a poignant tribute last night (8 May 2025) as local residents gathered around Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery with civic leaders to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day).
The commemoration was attended by the Mayor of Ealing, local councillors and Richard Kornicki CBE, deputy lieutenant for the London Borough of Ealing.
As darkness fell, the Ealing Choral Society performed I Vow To Thee My Country, their voices carrying across the park in a solemn prelude to the 9.45pm lighting of a ceremonial beacon.
The event was one of many held simultaneously across the country to honour the end of the Second World War in Europe and to celebrate peace, remembrance and the resilience of local communities. In Ealing, the beacon shone brightly beside the Manor’s conservatory, specially illuminated for the occasion.
Residents from across the borough and its seven towns, gathered to pay their respects, marking the occasion together against the backdrop of Pitzhanger Manor’s iconic conservatory, which was specially illuminated for the celebration
Standing near the Manor’s entrance is the Ealing War Memorial, a lasting reminder of the borough’s losses in both World Wars. Unveiled in 1919 and later expanded, the memorial was designed by Leonard Shuffrey, an architect who lived locally. It remains a focal point for annual Remembrance Day services.
Though the borough endured heavy bombing during the Blitz — with around 350 bombs falling in just three weeks in September 1940 — Pitzhanger Manor itself escaped damage. Its survival through the war allows it to remain today not just as a historic house, but also as a symbol of endurance and community spirit.
The event served as both a remembrance of the past and a tribute to those who continue to preserve Ealing’s heritage.
 as local residents gathered around Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery with civic leaders to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day).){kind=link}