THE 80h anniversary of VJ Day, marking Victory over Japan and the end of the Second World War, was commemorated across West Somerset and Exmoor on Friday (August 15) and into the weekend.

In Minehead, there was some disappointment at the absence of a civic event, and it was left to the Burma Star Association to arrange a service in Blenheim Gardens led by Catholic priest Father David Savoury.

The association exists for veterans of the war in the Far East, which continued for three months after VE Day, the end of the war in Europe.

Elsewhere, an afternoon tea party was held in Dunster Village Gardens on Sunday organised by village societies and organisations working together.

There were activities and exhibitions for those attending to enjoy with music, lawn games, a themed quiz, make do and mend, dig for victory, and refreshments, including hundreds of cream teas provided at no cost by Reeves of Dunster.

Most attendees were local, but coming from further afield to enhance the wartime ambience were Tamsin The Devon Forces Sweetheart, The Living History Museum, and Scrumpilicious Ice Creams.

Wreaths were laid at Watchet War Memorial on Friday morning in a service organised by the town’s Royal British Legion branch and led by its padre Father Vincent Woods.

Town crier Dave Milton and representatives of many local organisations took part.

A service was also held in the afternoon in Williton, taking place in the village’s war memorial recreation ground.

A national two minutes of silence at 12 noon was observed in many communities as requested by King Charles III, following which a service of remembrance and thanksgiving was held in St Dubricius Church, Porlock.

Church bells were also rung in a number of villages across West Somerset and Exmoor, including the Church of St Mary Magdalene, in Winsford.