Scots in London and its partners are delighted to be hosting a week of events to mark,
commemorate and reflect on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Work is also underway on a special commemorative booklet featuring guest articles from our members plus first-hand accounts from WWII. These booklets are free and will be available to collect at our events below and from our member organisations.
Event Programme
Tuesday 6th May 2025
6:30pm
Evening Panel Discussion – VE Day: Then and Now
LondonScottish House, SW10 2DX
Scots in London presents an evening of reflective and timely discussion: VE Day: Then and Now? What do we remember and what do we need to learn?
James Landale, BBC Diplomatic Correspondent chairs a panel of politician Sir Malcolm Rifkind, author and
historian Professor Lucy Noakes and Professor David Fergusson, Regius Professor of Divinity,
University of Cambridge.
Our special event takes place in the Grade II listed Victorian Drill Hall at London Scottish House. Guests will be able to explore the permanent London Scottish Regimental Museum exhibits as well as a pop-up World War II exhibition. Cash bar available.
Tickets FREE. Reserve your spot here
Thursday 8th May 2025
6:00pm
LondonScottish Regimental Association Evening Reception
LondonScottish House, SW10 2DX
To mark VE Day the London Scottish Regimental Association are hosting an evening cocktail party with
light refreshments at London Scottish House. The evening will include a pop-up World War II exhibition, access to the permanent displays of the London Scottish Regiment Museum, a guest speaker and the Act of Commemoration.
If you are interested in attending please email Simon Elsy for further information and to reserve
your space: simon.g.elsy@gmail.com.
Saturday 10th May 2025
9:00am– 5:00pm
ThePeace in Europe Conference
LondonScottish House, SW10 2DX
London ScottishHouse is delighted to also be the host venue for the ‘The Peace in Europe
Conference’, the opening event of the new Second World War Association. This full-day
conference draws together over 20 speakers including Beth Wyrill, curator of
the Fusiliers Museum – Tower of London, Dr Laur Patrick of the Royal Irish
Regiment Benevolent Fund and Gareth Crossman of the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission plus a range of family history speakers. The programme will also
include a workshop on how to produce Second World War history Podcasts, Youtube
shows, films and books. The full programme is available online here.
Tickers are FREE. You can book online here. For further infromation please contact Eddie O'Sullivan: edmundosullivan1@gmail.com
Sunday 11th May 2025
11:00am VE Day 80th Anniversary Service
1:30pm ‘The Parachute Padre and the SAS’ with Damien Lewis and David Robb
St Columba’s Church, SW1X 0BD
Join Scots in London for a special VE Day 80th Anniversary Service at St Columba’sChurch of Scotland, Pont Street with diplomatic representatives from Europe and the Commonwealth in attendance and the Pipes and Drums of the London Scottish Regiment. Join others to mark a significant national moment in a church that rose out of the ashes of World War II.
The service will be followed by a free afternoon event: “The Parachute Padre & the SAS”. Damien
Lewis, author of SAS Daggers Drawn unfolds the extraordinary story ofthe SAS chaplain, serving behind the lines in France 1944. With readings from the Reverend Fraser McLuskey’s wartime account by actor David Robb of Downton Abbey fame. Book your free tickets here
