2025 marked the eightieth anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day, two moments that signalled the end of the Second World War in Europe and across the world. This anniversary gives us a chance to look back at what people went through, the sacrifices they made, and how life changed during the war and once peace finally arrived.
Bringing together stories, objects, and memories from the period, the exhibition explores key themes from the final years of the conflict. It looks at the last hours of the war and the celebrations that followed, the impact of the Blitz on buildings here in Brent, the role of air raid wardens, and the contribution of global majority people. It also examines how families rebuilt their homes and routines through the use of prefabs and how the poppy became a lasting symbol of remembrance.
Visitors are invited to reflect on endurance, recovery, and memory, and to consider how the events of the Second World War continue to influence our understanding of the past and the values we carry forward into the present.