You are hopefully aware of our VE Day celebration event happening in the town on Saturday 10th May 2025. You can find full details of that here. Many of Dorking’s businesses and community organisations are going above and beyond to support the 80th anniversary. Here are a few of them here.
Putty Cakes and Coffee Shop are holding a Brew and Bake morning on Thursday 8th May in aid of Combat Stress for veterans with PTSD. They will be offering traditional cream teas, Victoria Sponge (no buttercream) and bread puddings, all while supporting an important cause. They will continue this initiative during the town celebrations on the 10th.
The Old House at Home on West Street are running a fish and chip special on Saturday 10th May for VE day. You will get aer portion of fish and chips and a Dorking brewery pint for only £10 between 4 and 8pm. They are also holding a quiz at 5pm which will be VE day themed for£2 entry, and a lucky square game also £2 a square, to raise money towards Combat stress in Leatherhead. 1940s music will accompany this and fancy dress is welcome.
Boots Opticians Dorking are running a prize draw to win a pair of sunglasses up to the value of £120 if you book your sight test with them the week of VE Day.
The Christian Centre are running several events to commemorate VE Day including: –
Friday 9th May 11am [refreshments served in the cafe from 10.30am] ‘Sing for Victory’ will be held in their large hall and will be the special focus of their bi-monthly Musical Friends morning.
Saturday 10th May at 7pm [doors open 6.45pm] ‘A VE Day Dance’ will be held in their large hall. The dancing will be to tunes of the 1940s. Light Refreshments will be served during the evening and there will be a raffle. Entry will be free but please notify the organisers Mike and Rosemary Thorn if you hope to come so they can have an idea of numbers mandrthorn@btinternet.com
Dorking Nursery will be having a Red White and Blue day for their pupils. WW2 holds a special place in the history at Dorking Nursery School as they opened at the start of the war to support children who were evacuated.
The Boot Hole are celebrating their own local hero, their Uncle Jim, who was at the D-DAY/ Normandy beach landing aged 21. Visit their shop in South Street to view their commemorative display.
Specsavers are also holding a cake sale on Sat 10th May from 10am – 2pm in aid of Blind Veterans. Their director has also pledged to match fund all donations! Cash only.
Finally, look out for many decorations in the town centre. You’ll see fantastic window display at The Optical Studio, Flowers By Elaine, Dorking Windows and Patrick Gardner with many more appearing each day. Hello Dorking have organised for the Union flags to be up, provided bunting for businesses, and for VE Day planters provided by the Men’s Shed and graphics designed by Wendy Saunders of Squiggle Design to bring a raft of red, white and blue to the town.
We are also running a commemorative family trail across the town starting on the 10th May. You will need to look for a series of painted window decals to spell out a phrase to be in with a chance to win tickets to Dorking Halls Plays in the Park. Full details can be found here.
