 Fort Amherst's World War II Experience
From Monday, 28 April to Monday, 5 May, Fort Amherst will host WW2-themed tours and activities. Highlights include themed tours, an exhibition of "Then and Now" images, and WW2-themed catering and music. Local school children will also contribute celebratory bunting designs.
The WW2 tours are running from Saturday, 3 to Friday, 9 May.
On Monday, 5 May, Fort Amherst will be hosting a VE Day Knees Up, celebrating like it's 1945! Events are ticketed.
 Brook Theatre in Wartime
Free Exhibition from Tuesday, 6 to Sunday, 18 May at Chatham Library.
Originally Chatham Town Hall, the Brook was a focal point for wartime planning, community support and VE day celebrations. The display includes books you can borrow on WW2 and local history and complements the 'Songs and Scones' event at Chatham Library on Friday, 9 May.
 Blooming Intra
Taking place across different venues along the Old High Street Intra from Monday, 5 to Sunday, 11 May, Blooming Intra will have activities linked to gardens and greenspace, environmental sustainability or perhaps growing yourself by trying something new.
As part of the programme of events, local artist Matilda Flood has created a Poppy Trail of artwork in shop windows across Intra to commemorate VE Day. How many can you find?
On Saturday, 10 May, don’t miss out on the Eco-Fair being held at Chatham Unitarian Church as well as a Craft and Plant event at the Zig Zag Scrap Store.
 Medway African and Caribbean Association
Join Medway African and Caribbean Association’s Senior Citizen group on Tuesday, 6 May from 1pm to 4pm at the Sunlight Centre for a VE day Commonwealth themed tea with refreshments and entertainment. Come dressed in your 1940’s attire!
Attendees will commemorate the Black contribution to VE Day and share their stories. There is a small fee to contribute towards the costs of £4.00 payable on arrival for more information email marva@macacharity.org.uk
Keep an eye out on our socials as well as www.macacharity.org.uk as Medway African and Caribbean Association will also be hosting a talk at the Royal Engineers Museum on the Black contribution to WWII With David Lawrence on Saturday, 16 August. Doors open at 10am, starting with a tour of the museum, with the talk running at 11.30am to 12.30pm followed by lunch then part two at 2 to 3.30 pm.
There will also be a Windrush talk at Chatham Library in June following a flag raising to commemorate Windrush Day - more info coming soon.
 Medway Arts and Homelessness Forum
Arts and Homelessness Forum are hosting a VE day garden party on Thursday, 8 May, 12 to 2pm at Kadesh, 35 Frindsbury Road, Rochester, ME2 4TD. This is open to people with lived experience of homelessness as they celebrate VE day and honour the legacy of the Shorts Brothers Seaplanes.
There is also a Shorts Brothers seaplane inspired VE day celebration lunch of Friday, 9 May at 12 to 2pm at Pathways to Independence, 25 Victoria Street, Rochester, ME1 1XJ. This is open to people with lived experience of homelessness. There will be food, drink, activities and competitions. Victory day costume optional.
The forum members will be creating seaplane bunting for the events and a window display in Strood at Tet-a-Tet, Tolgate Lane.
 Rainham Window Displays
Artist Nikki Whelan will be decorating four shop windows in Rainham Town Centre with beautiful designs commemorating VE Day. You will find these artworks at:
- Xpressions, 37 Rainham Shopping Centre
- Sunburst Books, 21-23 Station Road
- Lottie’s Locks, 39 High Street
- Just Cutts, 13 Rainham Shopping Centre
The artworks will be up for VE day on Thursday, 8 May.
Medway Artist Nikki, aka Nikki Mouse Designs, began her creative career as a face painter over 17 years ago. When the covid-19 pandemic hit, the face painting industry understandably suffered immensely and Nikki began to create art on her windows in an attempt to scratch her arty ‘itch’. From this she has gradually progressed and now uses both colour, and snow spray to create beautiful images on the windows of homes and businesses across the South East. Nikki is both excited, and incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to decorate four windows in Rainham to celebrate VE Day 80. She hopes everyone enjoys her splashes of colour throughout the town.
 VE Day Celebration at The Royal Engineers Museum
Join the Royal Engineers Museum on Thursday, 8 May, 2 to 4pm with free entry to the museum to celebrate VE80 surrounded by history.
There will be a live swing band to dance away to, children's activities and games including a nerf range, prizes for WW2 fancy dress and much more.
 Rubbish Idea
Kieran Poole is an eco-artist who makes mosaics and murals using littered plastic bottle lids and ring-pulls. He will be creating a large mural of a Spitfire which will displayed from Tuesday, 6 May for a week at the Royal Engineers Museum.
He will also be running a two-hour free workshop as part of the Royal Engineers celebration event on Thursday, 8 May where participants will be able to make small Spitfire mosaics.
 VEDay80 “In conversation with … Andrew Choong Han Lin, Royal Museums Greenwich”
Back by popular demand after his popular 2024 talk, join Andrew Choong Han Lin from Royal Museums Greenwich as The Historic Dockyard Chatham mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in the next instalment of their “In conversation with …” evening talks.
Thursday, 8 May Arrival from 6.30pm for a 7pm start, The Historic Dockyard Chatham. The Mess Deck will be open for drinks and snacks prior to the talk.
This talk will look back at the activities of the Navy from September 1939 to the surrender of Germany, examining how this impressively powerful and yet vulnerable force met and overcame the challenges of these fateful years.
The evening will be compered by Nick Ball, Collections, Galleries and Interpretation at the Historic Dockyard, and there will be a question and answer session following the conversation.
The talks are free to attend (you do not need a Dockyard admission ticket) but spaces are limited. Tickets must be booked in advance.
 Short Brothers Aircraft Manufacturers in Wartime
Short Brothers Aviation Heritage CIC will be sharing fascinating facts about Short innovative aircraft design and their incredible contribution to WW2 including their Sunderland flying boats and Stirling bombers made in Rochester. Meet them at Rochester Artisan Market on Saturday, 10 May.
 Victory in Europe at the Guildhall Museum - WWII Storytelling
Sat, 10 May, Sat, 17 May, Fri, 30 May, Thurs, 14 Aug and Fri, 15 Aug
11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE day, learn about life during the war in Rochester with our historical interpreter. See ordinary household items from the war years and hear some wartime tales of real local families.
Admission Fees Apply.
Half Term Family Crafts and VE/VJ Day Bunting at the Guildhall Museum
Tues, 27 May to Fri, 30 May, 10am to 4pm
Help make VE day bunting to commemorate VJ day in August.
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