VJ Day Service at St Mary's Church in the Lace Market

About

Saturday 15 August
St Mary's Church - Lace Market
Attendance by invitation only - watch the event on Notts TV ar at the Notts TV Facebook page
from 12:30pm
 

City and County announce plans to commemorate VJ Day

On Saturday 15 August, Nottingham City Council; along with partners at Nottinghamshire County Council and the districts of Nottinghamshire, will jointly commemorate VJ Day.

While VE Day marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, many thousands of Armed Forces personnel were still engaged in bitter fighting in the Far East. Victory over Japan would come at a heavy price, and Victory over Japan Day marks the day that Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, which ended the Second World War.

Tens of thousands of service personnel from across the UK and the Commonwealth fought and died in the war against Japan, including those who were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese.

Although events taking place across the UK are still subject to social distancing guidelines and local lockdown restrictions, the Nottinghamshire commemorations that are being held both at Victoria Embankment and St Mary’s church can be watched live on Notts TV from 12:30pm.

The feed will include excerpts from the first commemoration event of the day which is a party of civic dignitaries placing wreaths at the memorial.

The live stream, a first for such an event in the city will be broadcast from St Mary’s Church in the Lace Market where a commemorative service will be attended by The Lord and Deputy Lieutenants of Nottingham, The High Sheriff of Nottingham, The Lord Mayor of Nottingham, and a small group of leaders invited from local communities.  This is not a public service and members of the public are asked not to attend. The Reverend Tom Gillum will lead the congregation through a series of readings, presentations, and pre-recorded interviews and hymns which will reflect the local involvement in the conflict.

There will also be a recorded interview with Colonel James Gunn - a British officer who served with Mountain Artillery Training Centre, Royal Artillery; in GB and India, 1945-1947 and with the 307 Field Regiment (South Notts Hussars), 1951-1966. He will also reflect on his experiences as Colonel in the Royal Artillery at Bullwell Drill Hall, 1962-1966:

Deputy Lieutenant for the County – Dr Jas Bilkhu will represent the Commonwealth. Fighting in the Asia-Pacific took place from Hawaii to North East India. Britain and the Commonwealth’s principal fighting force, the Fourteenth Army, was one of the most diverse in history – more than 40 languages were spoken, and all the world’s major religions represented. The small congregation will reflect this with representatives from the Polish, Muslim, and Gurkha communities, amongst others.

President of the local Royal British Legion in Nottinghamshire, Colonel David Sneath will also attend the event. His work on local regiments - The Sherwood Foresters and the war in the Far East will be presented as part of the service.

The sermon will be delivered by Major General Timothy Cross, CBE - a retired British Army officer and military logistics expert. He has lectured both in the UK and elsewhere since his retirement and is a visiting professor at several British universities including the University of Nottingham, University of Reading and Cranfield University. Since 2007, he has been army advisor to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee.

The Army, Navy, and RAF will be represented as well as the Police and Fire and Rescue Services.

Those unable to watch the service live on Notts TV or via the live Notts TV Facebook feed will be able to see the whole programme at their leisure via the Notts TV catch-up service. There will also be footage available on social media from the afternoon. This will include excerpts from the wreath laying ceremony in the morning.

ST MARY’S IN THE LACE MARKET NOTTINGHAM
V J DAY SERVICE 15 August 2020

Welcome by the Rev’d Tom Gillum                                                                         
Hymn Eternal Father Strong to Save                                                             
Bidding                                                                                                                      
Interview with Col James Gunn                                                                               
The Sherwood Foresters and the war in the Far East (c/o David Sneath)   
Reconciliation by Walt Whitman (poem)     
Hymn O God Our Help                                                                                               
Reading Revelation 21.1-4                                                    
Sermon General Tim Cross                                                                                        
Prayers                                                                                                                       
Anthem Bring us O Lord by Howells                                                                        
(during which wreaths to be laid at the Burma memorial)
AN ACT OF COMMITMENT                                                                                       
Hymn Guide me O Thou                                                                                           
Blessing                                                                                              
National Anthem                                                                                          
Organ Voluntary Carillon by Herbert Murrill
The Gift of India – Produced by Jagdish Patel and read by Adeel Hannan from the Poem by Sarojini Naidu