Honouring the Past, Supporting Our Heroes Today – A VE Day Reflection

Today on the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe, we remember and honour the bravery, sacrifice and resilience of those who fought fascism and helped bring peace to our continent. For me, this commemoration is deeply personal. My grandfather, Dougie Webb, served in World War II, standing on the frontlines of that historic struggle. His courage – and that of millions like him – laid the foundation for the freedoms and democracy we cherish today.

But VE Day is not only about those who fought with weapons in hand. It is also about the engineers, the nurses, the codebreakers and – as a remarkable new exhibition reminds us – the women who broke barriers behind the lens of a camera.

A Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) trainee practising using a miniature handheld camera during training at the No.2 School of Photography in Blackpool. Source: Historic England Archive.

To mark this 80th anniversary, Historic England has unveiled a powerful collection of over 150 photographs documenting the wartime contributions of Dorothy 'Knicky' Chapman and her fellow Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) photographers. These women were trained right here in Blackpool at the No. 2 School of Photography before being deployed to Pinewood Studios – then transformed into RAF Iver Heath – where they played a critical role in military filmmaking and reconnaissance.

Chapman’s collection offers a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into military film production during WWII. From building model aircraft for films to producing essential newsreels like coverage of the D-Day landings, these women used photography and film to inform, inspire and uplift both the public and the Armed Forces. Her story – and those of the other 25 pioneering women in that first photography intake – reminds us that the war effort was broad, brave and innovative.

An RAF Instructor making repairs to a camera during a training exercise for Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) trainees during the first week of the training programme, at the No.2 School of Photography in Blackpool. Source: Historic England Archive.

In Blackpool, we are immensely proud of our military heritage. On Thursday 8 May, our town will commemorate VE Day with an evening of music, remembrance and community. From 7.30pm at the Tower Festival Headland, the promenade will come alive with performances from the Dad’s Army Band, a George Formby tribute and Beverley Alexander leading us in a heartfelt rendition of I Vow to Thee My Country. The iconic Blackpool Tower will be lit red, white and blue, joining the national beacon lighting in a powerful act of unity and remembrance.

As we honour the legacy of those who served, it is vital that we uphold our responsibilities to today’s Armed Forces and veterans. I am proud that the Labour government is doing just that. In our first year we’ve delivered the largest pay rise for the Armed Forces in over 20 years, ensured every service member earns at least the living wage and established an Armed Forces Commissioner to advocate for service personnel and their families.

We’ve honoured the promise of “homes for heroes” – bringing 36,000 military homes back into public ownership, ending a failed privatisation deal and saving the taxpayer £600,000 a day. And with our new Defence Housing Strategy and Consumer Charter, we’re raising standards in military housing – from higher move-in standards and faster repairs to named housing officers for every family.

We’ve also improved how we honour veterans at home. Thanks to the Royal British Legion’s Count Them In campaign, we now know that 4,412 veterans live in Blackpool South – 5% of our local population. But we also know that many face unique challenges with health, housing and employment. That’s why I’ve worked closely with Blackpool Council and our Armed Forces Champion Councillor Major Adrian Hoyle (pictured below) to better support our veteran community.

We’ve removed local connection tests to help veterans access housing, launched a ‘cyber pathway’ to bring new talent into our military and begun tackling the recruitment and retention crisis by modernising outdated processes. These are not just policies – they are a reflection of our national gratitude.

For me, VE Day is not just a date in the calendar – it is a reminder of the values we must defend every day: peace, justice, dignity and respect. We owe so much to those who fought not only with weapons but with resilience, ingenuity and hope for a better future. And I carry their legacy with me in my work as your Member of Parliament.

This VE Day, let us remember the sacrifices of the past, celebrate the contributions of our community – especially the pioneering women whose stories are finally being told – and commit ourselves anew to building a country that is worthy of the heroes who came before us.