13 May 2025
On the evening of Thursday 8 May, a specially formed school choir sang at the VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration on Woldingham village green, while, earlier in the week, Elodie in Year 9 took part in the VE Day parade in central London, representing GirlGuiding.
The well-attended celebration in the village began with the lighting of the beacon, after which the choir sang I Vow To Thee, My Country, with many members of the audience joining in. A short speech from the Chair of the Parish Council paying tribute to the sacrifices made during the war, and prayers said by The Revd Dr Catherine Dowland-Pillinger, the Anglican Team Vicar of Woldingham Parish and our school’s Associate Anglican Chaplain, were followed by a two-minute silence to remember those who fought for freedom.
Elodie, who has been involved in lots of activities to support her guide unit over the past few years, was delighted to be chosen as one of seven girl guides and rangers who processed past King Charles and other members of the Royal Family in the VE Day parade on Monday 5 May. Elodie also took part in a live interview on BBC Radio 5 Live (see photo below), talking about the importance of VE Day and the Guide International Service, which sent teams of adult Girl Guides to do relief work in Europe after World War II.
