Sevenoaks commemorates VJ Day 80 with plaques at World War II bomb sites and community events on the Vine

Published: 18 August 2025

Sevenoaks Town Council marked the 80th anniversary of VJ Day with two community events on Friday 15 August, as well as a town-wide heritage initiative.

Although VE Day in May 1945 marked the end of the war in Europe, fighting in the Far East continued for several more months, until August 1945, when Japan announced its surrender.

To coincide with VJ Day 80, the Town Council is installing a series of commemorative plaques around the town to mark locations where bombs fell during the Second World War.

The idea for this project came from Bob Ogley, a local historian and author, who recently published the book ‘Sevenoaks 1940’. Bob had commented, "Since the publication of 'Sevenoaks 1940', several readers have asked why there are no plaques to mark the spots where bombs caused such great destruction. The war years should not be forgotten and 2025 will be a special anniversary."

The Town Council is pleased to support this initiative to acknowledge the events that shaped Sevenoaks during the war, and is placing plaques at the following sites, each marking a location that suffered significant bomb damage during World War II:

• Walthamstow Hall on Holly Bush Lane – where a former gymnasium was destroyed in an air raid
• Bus Station, Buckhurst Lane – the site of cottages destroyed by bombing
• Boots Opticians, High Street (opposite the Market House) – marking the destruction of Youngs Furniture Depository
• Vine Gardens – the site of the Sevenoaks Club Hall (town theatre) lost during the war.

Last week, the plaques at Walthamstow Hall and Vine Gardens were installed. Headmistress of Walthamstow Hall, Louise Chamberlain, remarked, “At Walthamstow Hall we are very proud to be part of the history of Sevenoaks. The commemorative plaque now installed by our main entrance marks the destruction of our Gymnasium and Science labs following a direct bomb hit during the Second World War. As a scientist myself, I am delighted that this loss did not deter the girls from continuing to pursue Science with enthusiasm. This plaque is an inspirational reminder of the resilience of a generation of staff and pupils.”

 

On the morning of VJ Day 80, the Mayor of Sevenoaks Cllr Tony Clayton led a flag raising and wreath laying ceremony as Councillors and community members gathered to pay tribute. The event began with a proclamation from Sevenoaks Town Crier, Chris Conlan, then the Revd Angus MacLeay, Rector of St Nicholas Church, delivered a reflection. The event concluded with an unveiling of the commemorative plaque at the Vine Gardens with Bob Ogley. There were at least four people present who had personal connections to VJ Day, as their family members were in the Far East when Japan surrendered.

    

In the evening, Jessica De Giudici performed a free concert on the Vine Bandstand, singing Vera Lynn and 40s songs. The community came together to remember and reflect.