Celebrating VE Day and a Visit to a Bedford Park Exhibition

Report back from Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick

Andy Slaughter MP at a VE Day street party with his neighbours

May 9, 2025

This week began with a wonderful street party with my neighbours to commemorate and celebrate the 8 th anniversary of VE Day. It was an enjoyable day and a great excuse to gather together as a local community to commemorate such a momentous anniversary.

The VE Day celebrations did not stop there – there were events held in Parliament and across the constituency all week. On Thursday evening, many people gathered in Lyric Square to watch the beacon lighting. Beacons from across the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and other UK territories were lit to mark 80 years of peace since the end of WW2.

I was also lucky enough to join in some VE day games at William Hogarth School this week. I ate rationing food made by the children and visited their forest garden project as well as having the honour of speaking at their assembly. I was really impressed by the new play equipment at the school, funded by Hounslow Council, and already very popular with the pupils.

On Wednesday evening I attended the Bedford Park 150th anniversary exhibition. It was a very interesting event looking at the communities that have lived in the area of Bedford Park since 1875, told through stories and images.

In Lyric Square in Hammersmith after the VE Day Beacon was lit

Chiswick School visited Parliament this week with a group of year 10 students who are part of their Citizenship group. I was delighted to welcome them to Parliament and answer a few of the questions from the students.

In justice related matters, the Committee visited Wandsworth Prison on Thursday. This forms part of our work into rehabilitation of offenders. A Channel 5 documentary aired this week on the issues within the prison, making it an important time for the Committee to visit as we consider the conditions within our prison estate. As ever, I was grateful to the prison staff for giving up their time to show us around.

This weekend I will be attending more VE Day celebrations which I am already looking forward to!

Best wishes,

Andy

andy@andyslaughter.com

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