Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) hosted a VE Day experience at Abbey Circus Air Raid Shelter in West Bridgford with Nottingham Trent University (NTU) today as part of 80th anniversary VE Day celebrations in the Borough.
Local schoolchildren were invited for a private tour of the air raid shelter led by NTU’s Professor Chris Reynolds and Jason King to experience what it was like to take shelter from bombs during World War II.
A choir group from Rosecliffe Spencer Academy performed a variety of wartime songs including “Run, Rabbit Run!’ and ‘We’ll Meet Again’ to Nottinghamshire Deputy Lieutenant Michael Burrows DL, our Leader Cllr Neil Clarke, our Cabinet Member Cllr Jonathan Wheeler and parents and teachers.
The shelter officially reopened in February this year after being fully restored with a £60,000 grant from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, matched with funding from RBC and NTU.
History enthusiasts and local schools can also learn about the local history of the site and of air raid shelters on newly launched website.
There will be more open days later this year and local schools and groups can also arrange visits to the shelter by emailing NTU’s Professor Chris Reynolds at information@ng2shelter.com.
• Pictures: West Bridgford’s Abbey Circus air-raid shelter reopens after being sealed for decades
