Redcar is set to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day with commemorations along the seafront today.
The event will honour those who lost their lives during the Second World War while also celebrating the peace that followed.
Eric Howden, Royal British Legion president for the Redcar branch, described the day as "both a celebration and a commemoration".
The day's theme focuses on how "out of the darkness of war comes the light of peace".
Eric Howden, Royal British Legion president for the Redcar branch, described the day as "both a celebration and a commemoration".
GB NEWS
The commemorations will begin with participants gathering at 11am further down the seafront.
A march will then proceed along the promenade towards the beacon.
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At noon, a special service of remembrance took place at the beacon location.
"We will be forming up further down the seafront at 11, with the intention to march along the seafront to get to the beacon here, where at 12 noon we will hold our service of remembrance," said Howden.
The outdoor service is reminiscent of those held on beaches during the war.
Howden emphasised the importance of remembering those who didn't return from the war.
"We want to remember those who didn't come back during that awful war of one or more six years long," he said.
"We're also thinking that, you know, out there celebrated 80 years ago on the 8th of May and really enjoyed themselves and let off steam."
The Royal British Legion president expressed hope for good weather for the occasion.
The service will begin with an opening welcome from the mayor of Redcar.
This will be followed by prayers and acts of remembrance led by a local vicar.
Eric Howden said "out of the darkness comes the light"
GB NEWS
A Deputy Lieutenant will also address those gathered at the beacon. Howden himself will participate in the ceremony by reading a poem.
"I'm reading a poem called VE Day. Would you imagine?" he said.
The outdoor format mirrors the "drumhead service" tradition from wartime, though Howden noted: "We've got no drums, but it's an open air service similar to what happened on the beaches during that war."
