Ealing Marks 80 Years Since VE Day with Beacon Lighting at Pitzhanger Manor

Walpole Park in Ealing was the setting for a poignant tribute on 8th May 2025, as local residents gathered with civic leaders to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day. The Mayor of Ealing, local councillors, and Richard Kornicki CBE, Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Ealing, joined the community in this solemn celebration of peace and remembrance.

As dusk settled, the Ealing Choral Society performed I Vow to Thee, My Country, their voices echoing across the park in a moving prelude to the lighting of a ceremonial beacon at 9:45pm. The beacon, kindled beside Pitzhanger Manor’s specially illuminated conservatory, served as a powerful symbol of unity and resilience.

This event was part of a nationwide series of coordinated commemorations, with beacons lit across the country to honour the end of the Second World War in Europe and celebrate the enduring spirit of local communities. In Ealing, the atmosphere was one of quiet reflection as residents from across the borough’s seven towns gathered to pay their respects.

Standing at the entrance to Pitzhanger Manor is the Ealing War Memorial - a lasting tribute to those from the borough who lost their lives in both World Wars. Designed by local architect Leonard Shuffrey and unveiled in 1919, the memorial remains a focal point for annual Remembrance Day services, where the public and council members come together to honour the fallen.

Although the borough was heavily bombed during the Blitz - with approximately 350 bombs falling over three weeks in September 1940 - Pitzhanger Manor survived unscathed. Today, its enduring presence stands not only as a beautiful historic house but also as a symbol of Ealing’s resilience and community spirit.

The VE Day 80 ceremony was not only a tribute to the past but also a reminder of the importance of preserving Ealing’s heritage. Those wishing to delve deeper into the story of Pitzhanger Manor can attend a special event on Thursday 5th June, as part of the London Festival of Architecture. Titled If These Walls Could Talk…, the evening will feature a conversation with Financial Times architecture critic Edwin Heathcote, Jennifer Francis, and Gillian Darley.