VE Day 2025

On 8th May 2025, we marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day, a day of national reflection to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to express our enduring gratitude to all of that generation for their bravery and resilience. Across North East Fife, communities gathered at various commemorative events to pay tribute, and it was wonderful to witness such strong local participation. As I spent the day itself in London, I had an early start visiting the Tower of London to view the ceramic poppy installations that had been re-shown to mark the date. I later took part in the national two minutes silence in the House of Commons alongside doorkeeping staff, many of whom are veterans.

During World War Two, North East Fife played a significant role in the Allied war effort. It was home to RAF Leuchars, which became a key base for reconnaissance missions and coastal defence operations. Leuchars hosted the Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, whose pilots flew unarmed, high-altitude missions over enemy territory to gather vital intelligence. These dangerous flights provided crucial information used in major operations such as D-Day. Beyond Leuchars, local communities contributed through agricultural production, civil defence efforts, and by supporting evacuees and service personnel stationed in the area. The people of North East Fife, through both military and civilian means, played a meaningful part in Britain’s wartime resilience and ultimate victory - they will not be forgotten.

On Sunday, I attended the VE Day service at Pittenweem Church, where members of the wider community and representatives from several local congregations, including the Church of Scotland Pittenweem Church, Coastline Community Church, and St John’s Episcopalian Church, came together in a shared act of remembrance. Wreaths were laid at the memorial by each group in a moving ceremony. Following the service, I joined local residents for a community lunch, which was a welcome opportunity to reflect and connect.

Also on Sunday, a commemorative walk took place from Cellardyke and St Monans to Pittenweem as part of the National Fishermen’s Memorial Day event. This event commemorated the 150th anniversary this coming November of the tragic loss of 37 fishermen from the East Neuk in the Fishing Disaster of 1875. The Reaper, a historic vessel restored by the Scottish Fisheries Museum, sailed from Anstruther to lay a memorial wreath at sea in a poignant tribute to those who were lost. I look forward to seeing the planned memorial garden take shape later this year.