VE Day Order of Service

 
Royal British Legion Whaley Bridge Branch
  
VE Day THANKSGIVING SERVICE 
AT THE WAR MEMORIAL 
4 MAY 2025
  
March : True and Trusty – The band
 
The Greeting and Introduction - Padre
Heaviness may endure for a night:
All : But joy comes in the morning.
 
God has been our refuge and our strength:
All : A present help in time of trouble.  
 
Dear friends, we have come together on this day to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe, when the sounds of war fell silent on this continent.
 
We come together conscious of our need for God’s forgiveness for the sin and the desire to dominate others that leads to conflict between people, and war between nations. 
 
And as we remember the many soldiers, sailors, and airmen who gave their lives restraining evil and opposing tyranny, so we also come in thanksgiving for the years of peace that the nations of Europe have enjoyed since the Second World War.
 
We gather joyfully today, as those who gathered on that first Victory day, glad of each other’s company, and grateful for the laughter and love that follows times of sadness and loss. 
 
But above all things, let us pray that God’s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven, as we join our voices together and say:
 
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.  Amen.
 
Hymn ‘Praise, my soul, the King of heaven’
1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like me His praise should sing?
Praise Him, praise Him,
praise Him, praise Him,
Praise the everlasting King.
 
2. Praise Him for His grace and favour
To our fathers in distress.
Praise Him still the same forever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise Him, praise Him,
praise Him, praise Him,
Glorious in His faithfulness.
 
3. Angels help us to adore Him;
Ye behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Praise Him, praise Him,
praise Him, praise Him,
Praise with us the God of grace.
 
Reading 
2 Corinthians 5.16–21
 
Prayers
O Lord our God, as we remember,
teach us the ways of peace. 
 
As we treasure memories,
teach us to hope. 
 
As we give thanks for the sacrifices of the past, 
help us to work for peace and reconciliation in this world,  until your kingdom come. 
Amen.  
 
Collect for Peace
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: kindle in the hearts of all people the true love of peace;  and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom  those who take counsel for the nations of the earth;  that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward,  till the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy love;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
  
A prayer for the Sovereign
Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, bless our Sovereign, King Charles, and all who are in authority under him; that they may order all things in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace, to the honour of your name, and the good of your Church and people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Hymn  ‘I vow to thee my country”
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test
That lays upon the altar, the dearest and the best
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice
 
And there's another country, I've heard of long ago
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know
We may not count her armies, we may not see her king
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering
And soul by soul, and silently her shining bounds increase
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace
  
Act of remembrance - John Cooke, President RBL
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
we will remember them.
All:    We will remember them.
 
One minute’s silence
 
The Kohima Epitaph
When you go home, tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow, we gave our today.
 
The National Anthem
God save our gracious King
Live long our noble King
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.
 
The Blessing - Padre
God grant to the living grace,
to the departed rest,
to the Church and all people,
unity, peace and concord,
and to us and all God’s servants,
life everlasting;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.     Amen.

Thank you to all who have supported our community gathering and service today.
To the Town Council, Whaley Bridge Brass Band
 
After the sing-a-long, Footsteps will be open for tea or coffee.
  
VE Day Song Sheet - Whaley Bridge Band
 
1914
 
It's a long way to Tipperary,
It's a long way to go.
It's a long way to Tipperary
And the sweetest girl I know!
Farewell to Piccadilly,
Goodbye, Leicester Square!
It's a long, long way to Tipperary,
But my heart's right there.
 
Hello! Hello! Who’s your lady friend?
Who’s the little girlie by your side?
I’ve seen you with a girl or two
Oh! Oh! Oh! I am surprised at you
 
Hello! Hello! Stop your little games
Don’t you think your ways you ought to mend
It isn’t the girl I saw you with on Friday
Who? Who? Who’s your lady friend?
 
Take me back to dear old Blighty!
Put me on the train for London town.
Take me over there, drop me anywhere
Birmingham, Leeds or Manchester, well I don’t care
 
I should love to see my best girl
Cuddling up again we soon should be. Whoa!
Tiddley-iddley-ighty, hurry me back to Blighty
Blighty is the place for me.
 
Sentimental journey
Gonna take a sentimental journey
Gonna set my heart at ease
Gonna make a sentimental journey
To renew old memories
 
Got my bag, got my reservation
Spent each dime I could afford
Like a child in wild anticipation
I long to hear that all aboard
 
Seven, that's the time we leave, at seven
I'll be waitin' up for heaven
Countin' every mile of railroad track
That takes me back
 
Never thought my heart could be so yearning
Why did I decide to roam?
I gotta take this sentimental journey
Sentimental journey home
 
 
Who Do You Think You are Kidding Mr Hitler?
Who do you think you are kidding Mister Hitler 
If you think we're on the run? 
We are the boys who will stop your little game. 
We are the boys who will make you think again. 
'Cause who do you think you are kidding Mister Hitler
If you think old England's done?
 
Mister Brown goes off to town on the eight twenty-one 
But he comes home each evening 
And he's ready with his gun. 
'Cause who do you think you are kidding Mister Hitler 
If you think old England's done. 
 
Bless ‘Em All
Chorus
Bless 'em all, bless 'em all,
The long and the short and the tall
Bless all the sergeants and WO ones
Bless all the corporals and their blinking sons
'Cause we're saying goodbye to them all,
As back to their billets they crawl
You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean,
So cheer up my lads, bless 'em all
 
Verse
They say if you work hard you'll get better pay
We've heard all that before
Clean up your buttons and polish your boots
Scrub out the barrack room floor
There's many a rookie has taken it in
Hook line and sinker and all
You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean
So cheer up my lads bless 'em all
Chorus
 
White Cliffs of Dover
Chorus
There’ll be blue birds over the white cliffs of Dover
Tomorrow just you wait and see
Repeat
 
I’ll never forget the people I met braving those angry skies
I remember well as the shadows fell
The light of hope in their eyes
 
Chorus
 
We’ll Meet Again
Chorus
We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when
But I know we’ll meet again some sunny day
 
Keep smiling through, just like you always do
Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away
 
So, will you please say hello to the folks that I know
Tell them I won’t be long
They’ll be happy to know that as you saw me go
I was singing this song
Chorus