VE Day street party planned for New Mills’ old fire station estate

Residents on Falcon Close, Hawk Road and Pingot Road are being asked to decorate their homes with red, white and blue bunting and chat with neighbours from their gardens.

Wartime songs will be played over fairground-style speakers - while tables are being set up on Falcon Close allowing party-goers to sit in single numbers and talk while observing social distance.

Organiser Dave Aitken said the event would be a perfect opportunity for people to enjoy a picnic, barbecue or afternoon tea from their own back gardens.

However he added he also hoped to get people dancing on the day - even if it was ‘just the Lambeth walk’.

Dave, 58, a former firefighter of 30 years, told how the last time a street party had been held on the estate was in 1977 - for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

He described how, growing up on the estate as a child, there were frequent community days and he wanted to ‘recreate the same community spirit that existed both on VE Day and again in 77’.

Dave said: “We had a lot of community spirit - there were fetes and all sorts of community days before the fire station went part-time and the estate was sold off.

“People were suggesting an end of lockdown party but we thought that may not be appropriate because many will have lost people during the crisis.

“But then we thought about celebrating VE Day as the fire brigade was formed during WW2 as part of the air raid patrol.”

Dave said residents on the street were already getting excited as many of them remembered the Queen’s Silver Jubilee street party.

He added: “It will be a good way to celebrate VE Day and socialise safely while observing social distancing and I’m also trying to find a way to get people dancing - even if it’s just the Lambeth walk.”

The party will begin at 4pm on Friday - for more information email [email protected].

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