New UK bank holiday planned to mark major anniversary

Britain is set to express its gratitude to the 'Greatest Generation' by introducing an extra bank holiday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. According to the Express, plans are underway for a four-day celebration next year.

VE Day on May 8 signifies Germany's unconditional surrender in 1945, and VJ Day on August 15 marks Japan's surrender, which effectively concluded the war. While no decision has been confirmed regarding which summer weekend will be extended to a four-day event, an announcement is expected soon.

With approximately 70,000 WWII veterans still with us, next year may represent the final opportunity for these heroes to participate in tributes celebrating their service. The veterans have shown enthusiastic support for the proposed bank holiday extravaganza.

Geoff Roberts, 99, a Market Garden veteran who was captured during the Arnhem operation in 1944 and became a prisoner of war, shared his thoughts: "I think it's very important in these current times we remember those that gave their lives for our freedom and peace in Europe. We should never forget them. Maybe an extra bank holiday will help to remind people about what's happened in the past."

Marie Scott, now 98, vividly remembers her time as a 17-year-old on D-Day, working in a vital role within a clandestine underground bunker. Tasked with transmitting crucial coded messages from military leaders to soldiers on the Normandy beaches, she was also privy to the harrowing sounds of battle emanating from the soldiers' radios, reports the Express.

Reflecting on this period, she expressed: "An additional bank holiday would be an opportunity to thank all those wonderful people who made such a spectacular victory possible because, without them, the future could have been very dire indeed."

Plans are afoot to potentially give the nation some extra days off to commemorate significant historical milestones. The proposal includes either creating a long weekend by clearing schedules from May 9 to 12 or adding August 22 as an extra day to the summer bank holiday on August 25, transforming it into a four-day celebration.

This move follows the precedent set by the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II's 70th anniversary of accession, which saw a four-day revelry from June 2-5, as well as a bank holiday for her funeral on Monday, September 19. Moreover, Britons recently enjoyed another additional bank holiday due to King Charles’s coronation, with Monday, May 8 being declared a public holiday following the official ceremony at Westminster Abbey.

For the upcoming year, eight public holidays have been pencilled in, starting with January 1; then Good Friday and Easter Sunday in April; followed by May 5 and 26; the summer bank holiday on August 25; and closing the year with Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

In 2020, the early May bank holiday was shifted from Monday, May 4, to Friday, May 8, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, sparking debate over whether more notice should have been given or if an additional day off should have marked VE Day. Following Queen Elizabeth's passing, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson backed proposals for a new bank holiday to honour her reign, which would increase the yearly total to nine in England and Wales.

The proposal received strong support from Lord Richard Dannatt, 73, former Chief of the General Staff and Chairman of the Normandy Memorial Trust, who described it as a "brilliant concept", and Royal biographer Gyles Brandreth, 76, who believed such a day is "needed more than ever to remind us what connects us, to create an excuse to engage our neighbours in something more than small talk and to express our thanks to a lifetime of service in her Majesty the Queen. It is, as they say, for Queen and Country."

PwC analysis suggested that sectors like retail, hospitality, and tourism, which suffered during the pandemic, would greatly benefit from the economic activity an extra bank holiday could bring. However, government officials rejected the idea, citing "each bank holiday presents a significant cost to our economy".

On the final day of the Platinum Jubilee long weekend, June 5, a staggering 16,750,000 people - one in four of the UK population - took part in the celebrations, making it one of the largest community events in British history. Last month's Budget, confirmed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, revealed that taxpayers would contribute £10 million to mark the VE Day and VJ Day anniversaries next year.

Dick Goodwin, Vice President of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, expressed his anticipation: "We are looking forward to celebrating with the remaining Second World War heroes - they deserve Britain's gratitude and respect for their courage and sacrifice. We are long forward to the bank holiday and stand ready to help."

While officials have refrained from speculating about plans currently under consideration, one confirmed that the celebrations would be of "national significance" and a programme of events would be announced shortly. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport told the Express: "The 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day will be moments of huge significance for our country, and the Government is committed to commemorating the occasions appropriately. That is why we have announced more than £10 million for events. We will announce the Government's plans to mark the occasion shortly."