Whats on

V J Day 80th Anniversary

 V.J. DAY  -  Friday, 15^th August, 2025

Events were held in May to commemorate the 80^th Anniversary of V.E. Day, which marked the end of the Second World War in Europe; however, at that time eighty years ago, thousands of British and Commonwealth military personnel continued to fight Japanese forces in Asia and the Pacific for a further three months until Victory over Japan (V.J. Day) was declared on 15^th August, 1945, following Imperial Japan’s surrender to Allied Forces.  Alongside British Armed Forces were hundreds of thousands of people, who served in the Far East, from countries including pre-partition India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Nepal and African nations.

Tredegar Town Council is very proud to take part in celebrations and commemorate, as follows:

•   National two-minute silence to mark V.J. Day 80 – 12.00 noon

Commemorations will commence here in Bedwellty Park, Tredegar NP22 3XN, with the National two-minute silence to be held at 12.00 noon on Friday, 15^th August, 2025 to honour the 80^th Anniversary of V.J. Day.  This will immediately be followed by a short commemorative service at the Burma Shrine, located in the foyer of Bedwellty House, led by Reverend Matt Davis. 

St. George's Church will participate in commemorations with the ringing of the Church bell at 6.30 p.m. to mark the occasion.

Members of the public are encouraged to participate to mark the 80^th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War, which will pay tribute to the British, Commonwealth and Allied veterans who served in the Far East, the Pacific and Indian Ocean territories.

•   V.J. Day Parade and Service – 7.00 p.m.

The Royal British Legion – Tredegar Branch have planned a V.J. Day Parade from the World War II Memorial Gates at Bedwellty Park to the War Memorial for a short service: the Parade will march off at 7.00 p.m.  All are welcome to attend.

•   Beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace – 9.00 p.m.

Lighting of a Beacon at Aneurin Bevan Stones, Bryn Serth, Tredegar NP22 4NZ: all are welcome – the public are encouraged to come together in tribute to this special moment in time.

The Mayor, Councillor Alyson Tippings, said: ‘While the war in Europe had ended, it was still raging in the Far East.  V.J. Day is particularly poignant for the people of Tredegar, as the town had suffered large losses in the battle that secured the Mayu Tunnels on the Arakan peninsular.  Twelve young men from our town lost their lives and a further twenty-nine were injured.  This loss is never forgotten in our town and it is an honour to hold the Burma Shrine in Bedwellty House to remember those brave young men who gave their all.  The ridge in Burma that marks the battlefield is called Tredegar Hill, recalling that it was the courage, skill and fortitude of the 6^th Battalion South Wales Borderers, who were largely from Tredegar, that took it by storm on 26^th March, 1944.’

- Ends -

Merchant Navy Day 'Fly the Red Ensign'

Tredegar Town Council will Fly the Red Ensign on Bedwellty House in Tredegar. The Council recognises the enormous contribution the Merchant Navy made during both World Wars and continues to make today.  We are searching for all those who served in the Merchant Navy to come and join our commemorations.

While many people know that the 3^rd of September 1939 marked the outbreak of the Second World War, few are aware that it also marks the first major British maritime casualty. The merchant vessel SS Athenia was torpedoed just a few hours after hostilities were declared with the loss of 128 passengers and crew.

Although many hundreds of merchant ships and thousands of seafarers would meet the same fate in the years to come, the 3^rd September is now enshrined as ‘Merchant Navy Day’ to honour the brave men and women who kept our island nation afloat during both World Wars, and now even during peacetime continue to face the more routine perils of violent storms and mountainous seas.

The Red Ensign, or ‘Red Duster’ as it is affectionately known, has been the recognised flag of the British Merchant Navy since 1854.  It has become inextricably linked with the world-wide trade links that made the United Kingdom’s fortune in the intervening years and, while there are now fewer ships on the home register, many thousands of British seafarers still work on the oceans of the world, underpinning the vast majority of the international commerce that keeps our economy buoyant.

‘We invite all Merchant Seafarers past and present, from Tredegar or elsewhere, to come and join us at Bedwellty House.  Quite a few have joined us in previous years and we hope that this year’s event will attract more veterans and their families.  We sincerely hope that our townsfolk, who show such great support on Remembrance Sunday, will also come and join us on the day.’

If you served in the Merchant Navy, or know someone who did, please contact Clare Aherne on 01495 722352 or at tredegartc@btconnect.com to let us know if you are able to join us.

Climb the Town Clock

Tredegar Town Council

in support of the

Open Doors Event

Opening of the

Tredegar Town Clock

The Circle, Tredegar, NP22 3PS

to the Public

Saturday, 6 September 2025

10.00 a.m. - 12.00 noon

Come along and climb inside the Clock from the base to the top. The climb will be over three sets of steel ladders therefore suitable footwear and general good health is advisable - no flip flops or loose fitting shoes.

A certificate will be presented to all that climb.

Wreath laying Service at Cairn Memorial, Trefil

Tredegar Town Council make their annual visit to the Bomber Crash site at Cefn Yr Ystrad, Trefil where six brave young men lost their lives. They had set out from RAF Marham at 17.20 on 8th December 1940 in their Wellington Bomber heading towards Bordeaux, France. The raid was noted as a success with several targets being hit. On their return, the Bomber T2520 experienced bad weather and thick cloud which resulted in them being separated from the rest of the squadron. The basic and primitive instrumentation lead them off course and running low on fuel they began their descent; but instead of being over the lowlands of East Anglia they were heading towards the Brecon Beacons. The flight ended on 9th December 1940 at 3.12am on the rocky outcrop of Cefn Yr Ystrad to the north of Trefil village. There were no survivors.

If you would like to visit this site and share in remembering the brave crew of young men please meet at Top House Trefil on Saturday 9th November 2024. We will depart at 9.45am for the quarry followed by a short but strenuous walk to the Cairn where a short wreath laying ceremony and act of remembrance will take place.

A warm welcome is extended to everyone but you should have a reasonable level of mobility and fitness and dress appropriately for the terrain and weather conditions.

For further information call Tredegar Town Council on 01495 722352.

Events details & timings are subject to change

Remembrance Sunday

The Service will be held at St George's Church, Tredegar at 10am. After the Service a parade will form outside the Church and march to the War Memorial for a wreath laying Service at 11am.
All members of the public are welcome to join members of the Royal British Legion, former armed forces members and families to commemorate those that have lost their lives for their country.

Act of Remembrance

Members of Tredegar Town Council will be placing a poppy bouquet on each of the three Memorial benches in Tredegar.  The timings are as follows and member of the public are welcome to attend the brief service.

Commercial Street at 11am

Peacehaven at 11.15am

Sirhowy Community Garden at 11.30am.

Timings are subject to change

Christmas Lights Switch On

Once again the event is being held at The Circle with the Switch On by Santa and guest. The evening starts at 5pm.

There will be food and craft stalls, funfair rides and live entertainment.

The Switch On will take place at 6.30pm.  All are welcome.

Event is subject to change.