VJ DAY events will be held in Rawdon and Otley on Saturday to mark its 75th anniversary.

While VE day marked the end of fighting in World War Two in Europe, VJ - Victory over Japan - Day heralded the end of hostilities across the globe.

A spokeswoman for Rawdon Parish Council said: “Plans for large scale commemorations have all fallen victim to Covid-19 but Rawdon wants to make sure that there is an opportunity to say Thank You to all those who contributed to the victory and especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice to deliver that peace.

“To mark the day in Rawdon, Peter Lambert, Rawdon’s legendary ‘Pop Up Piper’, will don full Highland Military uniform and play throughout the day on Rawdon Billing following a national commemorative programme.

“People are welcome to watch, provided of course safe social distancing is observed. Peter’s pipes and bugle though can be heard far and wide so for those who prefer to stay at home the poignant call of the pipes and bugle should still be audible across much of Rawdon and beyond

“People can also join in the events at home and can find material to help them pay their own respects at this address https://ve-vjday75.gov.uk/toolkit/”

The programme for the billing is - 6am The Battle’s O’er (Pipes), 10.58am Last Post (Bugle), 11am Two Minutes Silence, 11.02am Reveille, 11.10am A cry for peace around the world, 8.18pm Sunset(Bugle).

Bellman Terry Ford will play a part in Otley’s commemorations,

He said:”In May this year, we commemorated the 75th anniversary of the ending, in 1945, of the war in Europe. Sadly, across other parts of the world, war continued to rage.

On Saturday, August 15 Town Criers across the globe will deliver a ‘Cry for Peace Around the World’ to commemorate VJ Day, the end of the war in the Pacific.

“At 11am I will be in Otley Memorial Garden to observe a minutes silence and at 11.05am I will proclaim the Cry for Peace Around the World. Please join me (at a safe social distance), on Saturday in the Memorial Garden to remember those who fought on and those who served at home.”

Otley and Yeadon councillor Sandy Lay said: “As millions enjoyed the summer of 1945 following the end of the war in Europe we must never forget that thousands of men continued to fight in a cruel, distant war thousands of miles away in Asia.

“Some of these men will have came from Otley and Yeadon and my thoughts are with them and their families. We remember those that fought and paid the ultimate price and those that came back but we’re never the same again. Thank you lest we forgot.”