It was a very busy few days in the run up to the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day on Saturday. VJ Day marked the victory over Japan on 15th August 1945 and signified the end of WW2.

There were events held across the County, which the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Miranda Gordon, DL, took part in.

Due to COVID19, all events were undertaken in accordance with social distancing requirements and many were held virtually, with wreath laying and speeches recorded in advance. Please see below to watch the video compiled by Mid & East Antrim Borough Council, which includes the Lord-Lieutenant laying a wreath in Carrickfergus and delivering a speech about VJ Day.

​The Lieutenancy would like to thank Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and Mid & East Antrim Borough Council for organising so many events across the County to mark this poignant anniversary. It was fantastic to see the Councils continue to embrace modern technology by providing virtual events so people could take part, even if they were unable to attend. 

The Lieutenancy took part in the following VJ Day events:

• The Lord-Lieutenant took part in a beacon lighting ceremony in Antrim and delivered a pre-recorded speech for Antrim & Newtownabbey Council. 
• The Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Miranda Gordon, DL, simultaneously took part in a beacon lighting ceremony in Newtownabbey.
• The Lord-Lieutenant also joined the Mayor of Antrim & Newtownabbey, Councillor Jim Montgomery, to open a special VJ Day exhibition at the Old Courthouse, Antrim.
• The Lord-Lieutenant laid wreaths at ceremonies in both Antrim and Glengormley, which was attended by the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and the High Sheriff of County Antrim, Mr Rupert Cramise.
• The Lord-Lieutenant took part in a beacon lighting ceremony in Lisburn and was joined by the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor the Hon Nicholas Trimble, and the High Sheriff of County Antrim, Mr Rupert Cramsie.
• The Lord-Lieutenant also took part in the virtual events (see video above), which included joining the Mayor of Mid & East Antrim, Councillor Peter Johnston,  and the Deputy Mayor.

For further information on the events held by the respective Councils, please click on the links below:

• Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council
• Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council 
• Mid & East Antrim Borough Council

The Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, attended an event for the volunteers of St John’s Ambulance,  from Mid and East Antrim, where they were presented with certificates by the Mayor at a special reception in Ballymena Showgrounds.

The Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Peter Johnston, presented 41 Certificates for volunteers and four to the District Branches at the event for their work throughout the Covid-19 crisis. Also in attendance was the Regional Manager of St John's Ambulance Northern Ireland, William McCormick.

The Lord-Lieutenant said "St John has a long and prestigious history of assisting during a crisis and working with other key organisations to provide critical care. As the nation's leading health and first aid charity in Northern Ireland, staff were on the ‘front line’, yet again, alongside their colleagues in the Health and Social Care Trusts and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) to provide much needed ambulance resources for patient transfers during the current epidemic.

That sense of service, teamwork and collaboration has undoubtedly been the light during the darkness of this pandemic.  I would like to thank all the St John volunteers and staff who served so selflessly during this crisis, both on the front line and in the vital support roles."

For further information please see the Council's Press Release, by clicking here.