Fairlight honours its wartime residents with VE Day plaque

Fairlight Parish Council and Fairlight History Group agreed back in January to install a plaque in the village hall to acknowledge the sacrifice made by wartime residents of Fairlight whose lives were changed completely over a period of almost six years.
Fairlight war-time plaque SUS-200605-131911001Fairlight war-time plaque SUS-200605-131911001
Fairlight war-time plaque SUS-200605-131911001

Clifftop Fairlight was in the frontline of aerial attacks in the second world war. Radar stations were set up to track incoming planes and spotters and coast guards were active.

Dogfights took place overhead with many houses in the village damaged by bombs dropped by enemy planes as they sought to lighten their load on the way back to French bases. Several aircraft crashed on the village following aerial combat.

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V1 rockets flew directly overhead on their way to London and batteries of guns were installed to try and down them before they could reach their targets.

It had been planned to hold a special event on May 8 the 75th anniversary of VE day, in the village hall with afternoon tea, music and the unveiling of the plaque.

The current lockdown means that the celebration event cannot now take place, although the British Legion will mount a commemorative display on The Circle in Shepherds Way.

The plaque reads: ‘Victory in Europe Day 8th May 1945. On the 75th anniversary of VE day we acknowledge the great sacrifices made by the men and women of Fairlight during World War II between 1939 and 1945. Whether as members of the armed services or as civilians they served on the front line to protect our country and our way of life. The residents of Fairlight offer grateful thanks. 8th May 2020’.

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Cllr Stephen Leadbetter said: “Residents considered it important that the plaque should be installed in time for the anniversary, which has now been done, with a formal unveiling to be arranged when it is possible to do so safely.”