Bank Holiday Friday (May 8)  marks the 75^th anniversary of VE Day and celebrations will be in full swing at our community hospitals.

While the nation currently experiences its own modern-day wartime spirit during the Coronavirus pandemic, thoughts and action will turn to 1945 and the moment the Second World War came to an end across Europe.

Our Creating with Care team has been busy preparing for the occasion, with bunting being coloured in and VE Day wordsearches handed out – all to keep patients and staff on wards entertained and morale running high.

At Witney Community Hospital plastic bottles have been collected and decorated to create a red, white and blue art installation, which can be seen from the wards for patients to enjoy.

At Bicester Community Hospital there will be a special VE Day themed afternoon with Creating with Care favourite, the Mary Lou Revue – aka Marie-Louise Flexen and Steve Skinley –  who will be doing a virtual performance showcasing  their fantastic bedside cabaret that’s been bringing cheer and entertainment to patients through singing, dancing, and reviving memories of yesteryear.

Angela Conlan, CWC’s arts co-ordinator and Trust governor, said: “I am so pleased CWC can support patients and staff during this time. It provides a distraction, relaxation and to some even comfort through entertainment.

​​​​​​​“These activities are designed to improve mindfulness and most importantly be enjoyable.  We must remember how the British nation came together to face the wartime challenges just as we today face our own challenges with COVID-19. It is essential we continue to work together, support each other and always be kind.”