VE Day Celebration at Shetland Museum and Archives
To mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Shetland Museum and Archives will host a special evening event on Thursday 8 May, inviting the community to step back in time and reflect on a key moment in history. The programme offers a chance to honour those who lived through the Second World War and to explore how the end of the conflict was experienced in Shetland.
The museum will come to life with activities that capture the spirit of celebration that swept the nation in May 1945. Live music from Girsie and the Loose Ends will revive the sounds evocative of the period, while guests are encouraged to dress in 1940s-inspired fashion, with students from UHI Shetland on hand to offer assistance in recreating hairstyles of the era.
Local historian Jon Sandison will share insights into how the end of the war was marked in Shetland, and highlight some of the remnants still visible today. Visitors can explore war-related displays, including military uniforms and archive photographs, and details on the Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) which operated out of Hay’s Dock during the war.
Two new focus cases will be unveiled: one sharing the story of a local Prisoner of War, and another highlighting Shetland’s own VE Day celebrations in 1945. Guests will have the opportunity to engage with wartime objects, discover stories from the home front, and learn more about Shetland’s role in the war effort.
Adding to the experience, Taste of Shetland will present demonstrations of wartime ration cookery, offering a glimpse into the resourcefulness of wartime households.
The evening will conclude with the lighting of a torch at Hay’s Dock, forming part of a UK-wide beacon lighting that will symbolically unite communities across the nation in a shared moment of remembrance.
Ailish Goodlad, Team Lead at Shetland Museum and Archives said: “We look forward to welcoming visitors to this commemorative event. It will be a chance to reflect on the significance of VE Day, explore Shetland’s wartime history, and enjoy an evening that blends learning with celebration. We’re especially pleased to offer such a varied programme that will appeal to many, and we encourage those attending to get into the spirit of the occasion and come wearing their finest 40s inspired looks. Think victory rolls, Fair Isle sleeveless pullovers and demob suits!”
Tickets are £16 from Shetland Museum Box Office.
All ages are welcome.
