LOCAL CARE HOME CELEBRATES THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF VJ DAY

Harton Grange in South Shields marked the anniversary of Victory over Japan Day in style with a special invitation to attend the local Town Hall with other veterans to see the unveiling of the unforgotten Army Statue for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, this marks a significant milestone in history This day is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by millions of soldiers and civilians during the war. As we reflect on this 80th anniversary, we honour the bravery and resilience of those who fought and remember the lessons learned from this pivotal moment in history.

Walking alongside Daft as a Brush, Cancer Patient Care Charity and incorporating their Annual VJ Anniversary Memorial Walk, the service took place outside the Town Hall, South Shields at 10.45am on the 15 August 2025. This also included the unveiling of “The Forgotten Army” statue gifted to South Tyneside by the Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care Charity to mark the 80th Anniversary of VJ Day.

The statue depicts local war hero, Len Gibson BEM, when he was liberated in 1945 from the Burma ‘Death’ Railway, handing his home-made guitar to a young local boy as a symbol of peace and forgiveness, as he was released from Far East captivity to come home. The homes veteran, Dennis who served for the 8th Battalion, home guard was honoured to be invited along with Les, David and Irene.

Judith Tully, General Manager at Harton Grange said: “Many of our residents can remember the end of the war and we all know what it meant for our country so we wanted to celebrate the date and listen to our residents’ memories of the war and the experiences they lived through.”

Harton Grange is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Harton Grange provides residential and dementia care.

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