VJ Day 75

A service held at Evensong on Saturday 15 August commemorated the 75th anniversary of the day that the guns fell silent in the Far East campaign of World War II, known as Victory over Japan Day or VJ Day.  In a poignant service led by Acting Dean Canon Michael Johnson, 60 people celebrated the service together due to the requirements of Covid-19 social distancing rules.  Brigadier Jock Fraser, Commanding Officer of the Royal Navy West and West, attended the service as consort to the Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Peaches Golding OBE. Dawn Anstey, a member of the congregation and guest of Col Jane Thompson DL, brought along a Japanese flag kept by her grandfather and shown here.  The flag was signed by all members of the crew of the captured Japanese submarine.  Canon Stephen Parsons DL, on the far left, is shown on the photograph taken on the North Porch of the Cathedral.