A prominent college in South Ribble has moved to clarify the purpose behind its VE Day celebrations after some criticism online from parents.

Parents online had expressed their anger that Runshaw College had chosen to ‘totally ignore’ VE Day in favour of a ‘culture day’.

But the college has insisted that is not the case and rather that the entire day was hosted as a cultural celebration in tribute to all allied and commonwealth forces around the world.

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They said that staff and students came together to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe with activities that remembered the sacrifices of British forces, but also the contributions of commonwealth countries to securing peace.

Clare Russell, principal at Runshaw College, said yesterday: “Today we commemorate the victory and peace achieved in Europe in 1945. The legacy of all those whose sacrifices secured our freedom lives on today.

“As a college we are proud of our work to promote the British values that our armed forces fought for and which bind us together as a community.

“We remember too that this was not solely a British effort; millions from across the Commonwealth—India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the Caribbean – also fought with courage and conviction to secure the freedoms we enjoy today.”

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