What will you be doing on Thursday, May 8?

Will it be business as usual? Will you be travelling to Helston for Furry Day? Or will you be joining in the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day?

I asked a lady I know if she recalled what it was like on VE Day itself. She remembered the sense of relief but went on to say that it was only then that the hard work began.

At the end of the war, Britain was in a sorry state and it took years to rebuild all the damaged homes and infrastructure caused by bombing and to pay off the debts the country incurred due to the war effort.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire has written: "VE Day 80 is not only a time to look back but also a chance to pass on stories of service and sacrifice to the next generation, ensuring the lessons of the past continue to shape a more peaceful future."

But have these lessons been learnt? True we in Cornwall have enjoyed 80 years of peace but that cannot be said of every area of the world – or even every part of the UK. We must not forget the decades of conflict in Northern Ireland before the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 that killed more than 3,500 people. 

According to Wikipedia, there are currently wars and terrorist incursions happening in 32 different countries. The conflicts in Myanmar and Israel-Palestine both started in 1948 and there appear to be no signs in either area that hostilities will cease soon.

Where have all the soldiers gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the soldiers gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the soldiers gone?

Gone to graveyards every one

When will we ever learn?

When will we ever learn?