Commemorating VE Day 80

As we mark the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe the Museum remembers World War 2 and the impact on the people of the Chilterns with a series of events and exhibitions throughout the year.

Visitors Share Memories of WW2

Sewell Nissen Hut, home to our WW2 RAF briefing room exhibit, has a VE Day 80 memory book where museum visitors can share their memories of Wold War 2. The book will become part of the museum archive, telling the stories and heritage of the local community.

Joan Brant, who was born in our Amersham Prefab, was the first to sign the memory book. Paying respects to her father Robert Brant, a WW2 veteran who went over Pegasus Bridge in Normandy shortly after the D-Day landings.

Mobile Museum at VE Day Celebrations

On 10th May our mobile museum will be attending the Croxley Green VE Day picnic, where visitors can talk to our land girls and explore the heritage surrounding World War 2 through our handling boxes.

Kids Trail Explores WW2

During May half-term we’ll be hosting a special Kids in Museums spotter trail based on the new book Shrapnel Boys.: Life on the Home Front. This national family trail is inspired by an upcoming novel by award-winning children’s author Jenny Pearson, publishing to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

The Longest Yarn 2: Britain at War on Display at COAM

The Longest Yarn 2: Britain at War will be on display throughout August. We’re delighted to host this travelling exhibition of knitted and crocheted scenes from WW2.

One of the panels from The Longest Yarn 2.

In 2024, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, retired Normandy resident Tansy Forster organised The Longest Yarn, an 80-metre-long knitted depiction of the landings that paid homage to the Hollywood film The Longest Day (1962). Now her sequel, The Longest Yarn 2: Britain at War – which relates scenes from the UK’s home front between September 1939 and VE Day will be coming to COAM in August.

The exhibition has been touring the country this year, with the number of panels growing at each venue. When it reaches COAM there will be over 60 crafted panels.

Remembering Victory in Japan

While The Longest Yarn 2 is on display, one of our Terrific Tuesday family activity days will be looking at Victory in Japan. This respectful and thoughtful day will look at the events leading up to VJ Day and the impact they had on the world in the years since.

Britain at War Living History Event

Our multi-period event Britain at War on 9 & 10 August will feature many WW2 living history groups and a talk from a Winston Churchill reenactor.