‘Extra financial institution vacation’ in 2025 to mark main anniversary

The UK is gearing up for a bonanza bank holiday to honour the ‘Greatest Generation,’ marking 80 years since the close of WWII. Reports suggest next year will bring about a bumper four-day celebration around May 8, commemorating Victory in Europe Day when Germany waved the white flag back in 1945.

The celebration is also to remember August 15 – the date Japan surrendered, ending the global conflict. While no exact summer weekend has been pinned down for this extra-long break, whispers say an official announcement is just around the corner.

With some 70,000 war heroes from that era still with us, the extended break next year could serve as a historic moment for vets to soak up applause. Old soldiers have already expressed their keenness for the long weekend.

Geoff Roberts, 99, who served at Market Garden in 1944, said: “I think it’s very important in these current times we remember those that gave their lives for our freedom and peace in Europe. We should never forget them. Maybe an extra bank holiday will help to remind people about what’s happened in the past.”

Marie Scott, 98, was 17 on D-Day. Her job saw her sending secret messages from the top brass to troops hitting the Normandy beaches. According to the Express, she had the eerie experience of eavesdropping on battle chatter floating over the airwaves from across the Channel.

Marie reflected on the significance of national celebrations: “An additional bank holiday would be an opportunity to thank all those wonderful people who made such a spectacular victory possible because, without them, the future could have been very dire indeed.”

There’s buzz that top brass are mulling over freeing up the calendar for May 9 and 12 or tagging on August 22 to the summer bank holiday on August 25 for a four-day event. This extra time would let communities across Britain toast to these big milestones, just like we did for the Platinum Jubilee last year.

Bank holidays in 2025

For the upcoming year, Britons are looking forward to eight scheduled public holidays, commencing on January 1; followed by the traditional Easter breaks of Good Friday and Easter Sunday; May holidays on the 5 and 26; the late summer August 25 holiday; and finally, the festive season celebrations on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

In 2020, the early May bank holiday was shifted from Monday, May 4, to Friday, May 8, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, sparking debate over the adequacy of notice and whether an extra day off should have been granted. Following Queen Elizabeth’s passing, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson backed proposals for a new bank holiday to honour her reign, which would increase the yearly total to nine in England and Wales.

The proposal received strong support from Lord Richard Dannatt, 73, former Chief of the General Staff and Chairman of the Normandy Memorial Trust, who described it as a “brilliant concept”, and Royal biographer Gyles Brandreth, 76, who believed such a day was “needed more than ever to remind us what connects us, to create an excuse to engage our neighbours in something more than small talk and to express our thanks to a lifetime of service in her Majesty the Queen. It is, as they say, for Queen and Country”.

PwC analysis suggested that sectors like retail, hospitality, and tourism, which suffered during the pandemic, would greatly benefit from the economic activity an additional bank holiday could bring. However, government officials rejected the idea, citing “each bank holiday presents a significant cost to our economy”.

On the final day of the Platinum Jubilee long weekend, June 5, a staggering 16,750,000 people – one in four of the UK population – took part in celebrations, making it one of the largest community events in British history. Last month’s Budget confirmed that taxpayers would contribute £10 million to commemorate the VE Day and VJ Day anniversaries next year.

Dick Goodwin, Vice President of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said: “We are looking forward to celebrating with the remaining Second World War heroes – they deserve Britain’s gratitude and respect for their courage and sacrifice. We are looking forward to the bank holiday and stand ready to help.”

While officials refrained from speculating about plans currently under consideration, one confirmed that the celebrations would be of “national significance” and a programme of events would be confirmed shortly. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport told the Express: “The 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day will be moments of huge significance for our country, and the Government is committed to commemorating the occasions appropriately. That is why we have announced more than £10 million for events. We will announce the Government’s plans to mark the occasion shortly.”