SEVENTY years since the end of the Second World War in Europe was marked across Oxfordshire at the weekend.

Buglers from The 7 Rifles band announced the start of VE Day commemorations at Oxford’s Castle Mound on Friday where the Queen’s representative in Oxfordshire Lord Lieutenant Tim Stevenson lit a gas beacon, one of 200 up and down the country.

Mr Stevenson said: “It’s quite right that as a city and county that we should mark the 70th anniversary in an appropriately dignified way particularly remembering all those who died and the families affected by the terrible conflict.”

The event marked the anniversary when Allied forces defeated Hitler’s Third Reich in 1945 after six years of war.

The Royal British Legion’s county chairman Jim Lewendon paid tribute to the nation’s wartime achievements.

The 86-year-old former Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantryman said: “It’s good for the younger people to recognise the sacrifice that we made.”

Similar events also took place in Banbury’s Spiceball Park and at Folly Hill, Faringdon, where the town’s last surviving veteran George Goddard delivered an emotional speech.

The 93-year-old served in the Far East against the Japanese after being called up in August 1939.

He said: “The 70th anniversary is important because it brings to people’s minds that we went through a pretty rough time.

“But we came out it and defeated terrible people.”

Mr Goddard was called up as territorial soldier for the Royal Berkshire Regiment before being mentioned in dispatches for his service in Burma.

His thoughts also went to his brother Ronald, a bomb aimer in Lancasters who was killed on March 30, 1945 over Germany.

He said: “The tribute was quite emotional really because it was for people who served who did not come back”

D-Day veteran Patrick Churchill, 91, was entertained by the RAF Falcons on Friday as they parachuted onto the Leys in Witney to commemorate VE Day.

The former Royal Marine Commando’s son Frank Churchill said: “It was a fitting way to celebrate VE Day.

“He was still in Germany on the day itself in 1945 guarding SS troops so he didn’t get to celebrate, but the symbolic importance of remembering it means a lot to him.”

Mr Churchill learned to parachute jump himself as part of his training for the Royal Marines before the Second World War, but never jumped in active service.

He was with the Royal Marines when they stormed Juno beach in 1944 before being attached to the French unit 4 Commandos.

Commemorations continued on Saturday with the Royal British Legion collecting for its Poppy Appeal in Oxford’s Bonn Square.

The RBL’s community fundraiser for Oxfordshire Mark Garwood said it was only right to remember those who gave their lives for their country.

The 37-year-old said: “It’s remembering those people who took part and made the ultimate sacrifice.”

And in Wantage yesterday (Sun) Anni Byard and her neighbours threw a VE Day party to mark the anniversary.