Local Families Share VE and VJ Day memorabilia and photos As St Cuthbert’s Church, Norham holds a Flower Festival to commemorate V.E. and V.J. Day

VJ Day has a special meaning in Norham. An estimated 71,000 Soldiers from Britain and the Commonwealth died in the war against Japan, including more than 12,000 prisoners of war who died in Japanese captivity, including some from Norham.  Others returned to their families sometime after VJ Day, have suffered a great deal.

A number of young men from Norham joined the Territorial Army, and became part of Z Company, 9th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, and after some action in France eventually embarked for the Far East in early February 1942. As their ships approached Singapore, they came under Japanese air attack and suffered their first casualties. The men then spent nine days defending Singapore against the Japanese. When the surrender finally  came on 15th February, they became prisoners of war, for more than three years suffering harsh treatment and deprivation at the hands of their Japanese and Korean guards.

George Straughen (1918-2003) was a Japanese Prisoner of War and survived. His family have kindly loaned his demob coat, kit bag and other memorabilia and photos to display alongside the flower arrangements planned for the forthcoming Flower Festival. 

The week-long flower festival in Norham is being staged to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of V.E. and V.J. Day this year.

The Church will be filled with over forty arrangements created to reflect the theme, including Dig for Victory, The Sound of Peace, Support the Home Front and a little bunker/shelter outside the Church entrance, all created by a team of volunteers including professional florists, flower arrangers, community groups and individuals.

The Flower Festival will coincide with Open Gardens, crafts on the green and teas in Norham Village Hall on Sunday 22 June. There are about eight gardens to view, large and small, including those with ponds, pergolas, summer houses, bee hives and a huge variety of plants, trees and shrubs.

Stalls on the Village Green will include Half a Hedgerow (decorative art for the garden), Biteabout Arts (hand woven willow artefacts) Eric Pearson (potter), Straight Lace (vintage homewares) Ronnie Hek (wildlife photography) and Graeme Wilson of GW Ecology.

The Village Hall will serve teas all afternoon

In addition to the publicity being sponsored by Paton & Co., Estate Agents., the Church flower displays are being sponsored by many local businesses, residents, and St Ceolwulf’s C. of E. First School

Norham Flower Festival, St Cuthbert’s Church, Norham Sun 22 - Sun 29 June 2025

Sundays 11.00am-5.00pm; Mon-Sat 10.00am-5.00pm. Entry by cash or card donation.

Norham Open Gardens, Crafts & Teas Sun 22 June 1.00-5.00pm

8 Gardens - Teas - Entry £3 per adult cash (Children Free – No unaccompanied children)

Well behaved dogs on leads welcome in all gardens (none in church)

Tickets & Trail Maps available from Norham Village Hall TD15 2LQ