MORE than 300 standards bearers will be taking part in a special virtual parade to commemorate Victory in Europe (VE) Day tomorrow, including eight from Wiltshire.

To mark the 75th year since Nazi Germany’s surrender in the Second World War, a three-day weekend of events and services was planned, which have now been cancelled because of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Now standard bearers from across the nation have filmed their own ceremonies and acts of remembrance in their homes, to be edited together into a commemorative video especially for May 8.

Maureen Hansford, from Shrewton, has been a standard bearer for the Shrewton and District Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) for the last 20 years, and felt “proud” to be involved with the virtual parade.

Across the VE Day weekend Maureen was supposed to be attending services in Shrewton, a care home and a school in Laverstock.

After filming on the green outside her home last week, she said: “I was meant to be doing three [VE Day] events over the next weekend so it is a shame they are not going ahead, but this video has brought standard bearers from all over the world together.

“We didn’t want to not do it because of Covid-19. I had two grandparents who fought in the war and survived, and two great uncles that didn’t come home, so I wanted to remember those.

“These people need to live on in our memories and we can still do that at home.”

Other standard bearers taking part from RBL branches across Wiltshire include Caroline Flaherty from Salisbury Women’s Section, county bearer Kevin Toft from Seend, Ian Woodford from Wroughton, Mark Green from Calne, deputy county standard bearer Tracy Butt from the Britton Women’s Section, Peter Ellis from the Calne Royal Air Force association and Louise Downton from Heytesbury and District Women’s Section.

According to Maureen standard bearers from across Europe, South Africa and Argentina have also shown their support by sending in clips.

Plans to mark the event were set up by standard bearer Steven Carr from Huntingdon, after he put forward his idea on social media.

The video of the virtual parade will be posted online at 11am tomorrow, including combined footage of the bearers, a blessing from a Huntingdon vicar and a performance of Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again.

Maureen added: “I was so grateful when I was asked to be involved, and the support from the community has been fantastic.

“Being a standard bearer has always been important to me, it’s an honour. When my dad died I got to take him on his last parade.

“Being in lockdown does not mean we should not remember them, and it has been amazing doing my bit for the legion.”