Paying respect to those who brought victory

Dewsbury Minster, Spenborough Town Hall and the Old Colonial pub in Mirfield were among the venues to host VJ Days at the weekend.

Mayor of Kirklees Coun Paul Kane (Lab, Dewsbury East), who attended the Cleckheaton and Dewsbury services, said: “It was a wonderful, wonderful day with a massive cross-section of events.

“And the minster service might be the last major event led by the Rev Kevin Partington.”

Outgoing Rector Rev Partington will retire on September 27, with a formal leaving celebration to be held on October 4.

Old Colonial landlord Tim Wood, who organised the Mirfield event, said: “We showed a mark of our respect to the forces who took part in defeating the Japanese.

“It was a good day and we had quite a few veterans attend.”

Meanwhile, a parade began at Spenborough town hall and headed to Cleckheaton’s memorial park, while wreaths were laid at the Old Colonial’s war memorial.

VJ Day marks the day Japan surrendered and the end of WWII on August 15, 1945.