Second World War tribute will be seen across Northampton as part of lift tower display

The lift tower has beamed brightly over the town for the past two weeks to pay thanks to Northampton General Hospital workers and Colonel Tom Moore. Picture by Leila Coker.

As the sun sets on the town and a day of garden parties reach their finale, the National Lift Tower will be lighting up from 9.30pm on May 8 to bring a day of VE Day celebrations to an emotional close.

VE Day, which is also known as Victory in Europe Day, commemorates the day towards the end of the Second World War when fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe came to an end.

The lift tower display will follow the nationwide singalong of the wartime anthem “We’ll Meet Again” by Dame Vera Lynn, which will take place just moments after the Queen's address to the nation.

Last week 'Tom 100' beamed over town to mark the fundraisers 100th birthday as he reached more than a staggering 30 million for the NHS Charities Together pot.

The display will be put together by Mat Lawrence, of MLE Pyrotechnics, who is now known for putting on two emotional lift tower NHS and Tom Moore displays over the past two weeks.

Mat said: "There has been a huge amount of support in the area to light up the lift tower and by doing so on VE day we're helping you all to celebrate a significant day and it's something we're proud to be able to do.

"We would usually be doing firework displays for VE day where crowds would attend but the lasers we use are a way to entertain a number of people without the need to travel."

The display, in partnership with the Chronicle & Echo and Northampton Borough Council, will use high powered laser lights which are controlled by fast moving mirrors that move the beam 40,000 times a second - giving the effect of waving a sparkler.