Hundreds gather for VE Day parade in Croydon

9 May 2025 Claudia Lee

Hundreds gathered for a parade through Croydon last night to celebrate VE Day.

More than 550 people gathered in Grange Park, Old Coulsdon, to commemorate 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe.

Speakers included the Deputy Civic Mayor of Croydon, Richard Chatterjee, and Pastor Malcolm Newman from Old Coulsdon Congregational Church.

*More than 550 people gathered in Grange Park, Old Coulsdon, for the event (Picture: Chris Sharp Photography/ www.sharp-pictures.com)*

The parade was boosted by marching band The Redhill Corps of Drum and Band, joined by the 17th Purley Scout Group and Air Cadets fromCoulsdon & Purley Squadron Air Training Corps.

This year, VE Day celebrations were spread across four days, from May 5 to 8, in tribute to the millions of people across the UK and Commonwealth who served in the Second World War.

*Member of the Redhill Corps of Drum and Band in Grange Park (Picture: Chris Sharp Photography/ www.sharp-pictures.com)*

Elsewhere across the capital, the Cenotaph was draped in union flags, about 30,000 ceramic poppies were installed at the Tower of London and a military procession marched from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace followed by a flypast including the Red Arrows.

Pictured top: The parade was boosted by marching band The Redhill Corps of Drum and Band (Picture: Chris Sharp Photography/ www.sharp-pictures.com)