A FAMILY fashioned a warplane from cardboard to celebrate VE Day.

The Spitfire aircraft was created by the Edwards-Jones family in White Lodge, The Cliff, and was one of many celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.

On May 8, 1945, there was dancing in the streets as peace returned after six years of fighting a war that claimed millions of lives.

Every year since, we celebrate the men and women who returned and remember those who were lost.

Huw Edwards-Jones, 63, a furniture maker, “flew” the plane while his son, Dylan, 9, wore his grandfather’s uniform, which surprisingly fitted.

The uniform belonged to Crawford John Edwards-Jones, born in 1919, who fought in the Second War War, including volunteering to fight the Japanese behind enemy lines.

The family re-enacted “shooting down” cardboard made to look like coronavirus.

Mr Edwards-Jones said: “It reflects the hardship we’re having, but what it also does is show the community spirit that has built up despite what we are going through.

“For once in my living memory, people are more neighbourly, putting aside materialism for something which is more meaningful.”

Across Sussex, residents dug out the digestives and deckchairs to enjoy street parties – at a distance – with their neighbours to celebrate VE Day on Friday.

Community

Tea parties were held in Hangleton, Durrants retirement community in Faygate celebrated with scones and 1940s music and Mike and Julie Ince entertained neighbours in Bigwood Avenue in Hove with their lindy hop dancing.

Amid the festivities in the bank holiday heatwave, a Spitfire was flown across the perfect blue sky.

People waved Union Jacks from their gardens as the SM520 aeroplane flew over the coast. It took off from Boultbee Flight Academy in Goodwood before flying over locations, inducing the home of wartime sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn in Ditchling.

The plane then made its way across the coast at about 1pm, passing over locations selected by a national newspaper’s readers.

They included Blind Veterans UK in Greenways, Ovingdean, Care for Veterans in Worthing and the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead.

D-Day veteran Len Gibbon, 96, cheered as the plane flew over Worthing.

Conservative councillor Mary Mears said: “I’m really, really pleased that residents in the city are out celebrating VE Day, even if it is just flags in the garden or virtual tea party.

“This is a celebration of the end of war in 1945 when all these men and women came home to their loved ones.”

The Queen has said the message of VE Day is “never give up, never despair” in a poignant national address 75 years on from the end of the war in Europe.

In a pre-recorded message, the Monarch remembered the sacrifices of the Second World War generation.

She said their lasting legacy “is that countries who were once sworn enemies are now friends, working side by side for the peace, health and prosperity of us all”.

The televised broadcast from Windsor Castle’s white drawing room capped a day of bank holiday sunshine, virtual celebrations, socially distant street gatherings, and stunning RAF flypasts as the Red Arrows flew over London and RAF Typhoons were seen above Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. Afterwards, people were invited to open their doors and windows and take part in singing Forces’ Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn’s wartime anthem We’ll Meet Again during the BBC’s VE Day 75 show.