VE Day Celebration Day at West Bridgford Air Raid Shelter
Last updated: 24/4/2025
Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) is hosting a VE Day experience at Abbey Circus Air Raid Shelter in West Bridgford with Nottingham Trent University (NTU) as part of VE Day celebrations in the Borough.
The event on May 8 will see local schoolchildren invited for a private tour of the air raid shelter which was forgotten for decades and has now been fully restored for visitors to experience what it was like to take shelter from bombs during World War II.
A choir group from Rosecliffe Spencer Academy will also be performing a variety of wartime songs to mark VE Day.
The shelter officially reopened in February this year after being fully restored with a £60,000 grant from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, matched with funding from RBC and NTU.
The historic structure has been secured internally and externally, with access and ventilation improved. Wooden benches have been created and installed throughout, featuring brackets salvaged from the original furniture.
LED lighting has been fitted beneath the benches for improved visibility, and a pop-up screen has been installed for educational films to illustrate the history of the shelter.
The creative content for the project, including an animated film, activity leaflet, and signage, was designed and delivered by illustration students from the Nottingham School of Art & Design at NTU, who used colours and fonts commonly seen during WWII to give a nostalgic feel.
History enthusiasts and local schools can also learn about the local history of the site and of air raid shelters on newly launched website.
There will be more open days later this year and local schools and groups can also arrange visits to the shelter by emailing NTU’s Professor Chris Reynolds at information@ng2shelter.com.
For further information about VE Day and how residents can get involved in celebrations next month, including a road closure for a street party, visit RBC's webpage.