Charnwood resident chosen to light the beacon for 80th anniversary of VE Day

The beacon will be lit around 9.30 pm.

Mrs Breed was only five years old and was taken in by a family in Cossington. She has remained in Charnwood ever since.

Following a competition, Sheila has been selected to light the beacon in Queen’s Park in Loughborough on Thursday, 8 May – exactly 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe on 8 May 1945.

Mrs Breed said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be selected to light the beacon for such an important milestone in our country’s history.

“I am very pleased that in my 90 years I have seen Charnwood flourish and grow, and I consider the opportunity to light the beacon a fitting way to thank the people of Charnwood who have given me such a fine home.”

A number of information stalls including Army Reserve, Loughborough Sea Cadets, Loughborough Wellbeing Centre, Royal British Legion and the Loughborough Library Local Studies Group will be in Queen’s Park from 8.30pm.

The beacon will be lit around 9.30pm and will be one of thousands across the country lit to mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe.