RESIDENTS in Inchinnan are rallying the troops to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

The Inchinnan War Memorial Committee (IWMC) was set up to oversee the creation of a special commemorative stone to be laid on a site across from the Braehead Tavern during a special ceremony planned for Friday, May 8.

“It was members of the community council who decided to put this together,” said IWMC chair Gordon McLelland.

“It’s really proactive, everyone is doing something.

“It’s been a good community effort. The stone is being donated from a quarry in Dumbarton. Wills Brothers, a civil engineering firm where one of our members works, will site it and a stonemason from Beaton Brothers funeral directors will sort out the plaque.”

The ceremony will begin a weekend of special events, not only in Inchinnan but throughout the United Kingdom, to mark 75 years since the Allied victory in Europe (VE Day).

Mr McLellan added: “The stone will honour everyone who was involved in the war effort, not just soldiers and ex-servicemen but the Home Guard, land girls and everyone else.”

As well as the sighting of the stone on May 8, there will be a street party in Inchinnan Parish Church car park and a 40s night at the Braehead Tavern.

There’s also a ceilidh planned for the Saturday night at the local community centre.

For the dance, local supermarket Morrisons has offered to supply 140 pies.

To help pay for the VE75 celebrations, the IWMC coined in £600 at the supermarket and a further £200 has been collected via an online fundraising drive.

Anyone who would like to make a donation can visit the Just Giving page.

 

*PLEASE NOTE ALL CELEBRATIONS ARE NOW CANCELLED* Due to the coronavirus, the IWMC has contacted The Gazette. While plans are still afoot to site the memorial in Inchinnan, no VE75 parties will take place until further notice.