🇬🇧 VJ Day 80 Commemorated in Dornoch 🇬🇧
On Friday 15th August, the community of Dornoch came together to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) with a full programme of remembrance and celebration.
The day began with a service of remembrance and wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial, where members of the public were invited to lay wreaths or posies in memory of those who served. Veterans, families, and residents gathered in solemn reflection to honour the sacrifice and resilience of that generation.
Later in the morning, the mood lifted with a 1940s-themed coffee morning in West Church Hall, followed by a children’s fancy dress competition on the Cathedral Green. Youngsters and families embraced the spirit of the era, bringing colour and smiles to the historic setting.
All photos above courtesy of Peter Wild (click any image to see a bigger version)
In the afternoon, the Carnegie Library hosted a paper crane workshop, commemorating Hiroshima and Nagasaki and sharing the story of how folded cranes became a global symbol of peace. Strings of cranes and a kimono were later displayed in Dornoch Cathedral as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the hope for a more peaceful future.
St Finnbarr’s Episcopal Church was open in the early evening for quiet reflection, before the day concluded with a celebratory gathering with East Sutherland Rescue Association at the Cadogan Lifeboat Station. The evening featured live music, dancing, community singing, a buffet, and a 1940s quiz, alongside an exhibition from Historylinks Museum exploring the local impact of the Second World War.
Guests even took to the floor for a bit of coordinated dancing — we think it might have been The Dashing White Sergeant, though opinions are still divided! Either way, it brought plenty of smiles to the evening.
The amazing exhibition from History Links Museum (this video has no sound)
At 9:30pm, a Beacon of Peace was lit on Dornoch beach, accompanied by the haunting notes of a lone piper and the firing of a cannon. Similar beacons shone across the UK, uniting communities nationwide in commemoration.
As night fell on Dornoch beach, a cannon was fired, the Beacon of Peace was lit, and the lone piper played while we all stood together in silent witness.
Videos above courtesy of Tony Ross
The day brought together moments of solemn reflection and joyful celebration, reminding us not only of the sacrifice of those who served, but also of the enduring strength and spirit of our community.
A selection of photos from the evening, courtesy of Zara MacDonald (click any image to see a bigger version)
