Selby Times - May 2025

A few weeks ago, I was visiting St Mary the Less Church in Allerton Bywater. Whilst flicking through a local history book, I was struck by a photo taken on the 8th May 1945, a time in our nation’s history which has been cemented in our collective consciousness when war came to an end on the European continent.

A picture can certainly paint a thousand words, and I know the scene from that photo was being replicated on that day right across our local area – the long tables, the smiling faces, and the collective feeling of relief at the ending of six years of brutal war.

Today, we commemorate eighty years since VE Day, when Allied forces finally overcame the evil of Fascism. This anniversary is particularly poignant – there are still residents in our community who recall the day itself, the suffering and sacrifice which came before, and the monumental effort which followed as the Government and its citizens set about rebuilding Britain.

Anniversaries like this provide a vital moment for national remembrance and reflection. As well as remembering the more than 600,000 men and women from across the Commonwealth who lost their lives, we also remember the service of millions who served bravely overseas and on the home front. They included Selebians who fought bravely across Europe, defended our skies at home, and produced the food and resources which powered our war effort.

At Skipwith Common, the site of the former RAF Riccall base, sits a reminder of the sacrifice made through the war. In 1944, pilots Flight Sergeant Rumney and Sergeant Hurr readied a mission which was to simulate a bombing run they were preparing to complete in Europe. Tragically, their aircraft collided with another fighter and plunged into the Irish Sea. Members of the crew were as young as twenty. We must never forget that they gave their lives to keep Britain free and defend the democracy we hold so dear.

At the Common, you can see the three bladed memorial which was salvaged from a crashed aircraft. This memorial was built in 2010 to commemorate the men and women of the Armed Services who were stationed at the base during the Second World War. One of the first engagements I attended as an MP was a memorial event in rural North Yorkshire near Moor Monkton, where a Lancaster bomber had crashed on a training mission. Amongst the crew were men from Kent, London and County Durham, but also brave men from the United States and Canada – a reminder of the countless soldiers who were laid to rest far from home in defence of our freedom.

At this time of the year, we must also remember that many of the problems veterans faced when returning home in 1945 are still faced by our veterans today. Whether it be accessing housing, healthcare or adjusting to civilian life. After many years of being let down, there is an urgent need to renew the nation’s vows of obligation to those who have served.

To support veterans as they adjust to civilian life, the Government is investing more than £21 million each year to run a specialist mental health service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military. We’re also exempting veterans from local connection requirements to access social housing, increasing their ability to access safe and secure housing wherever they settle after their service. These sit alongside our commitment to put the Armed Forces Covenant fully into law.

In conversations with veterans, I’m always struck by their stoicism, and their clear conviction that they are not asking for special treatment. The issues they face are often the same as those we see right across our community – whether that be difficulty access housing, proper mental health support, public transport, or employment.

But we also know that having served in our armed forces can make the impact of these challenges more pronounced. That’s why we have a duty to ensure support is in place – to show we recognise the sacrifices veterans have made and the risks they have taken to keep us safe. I’m proud that our local Labour Party has created a specific position to represent the interests of local veterans, and would encourage anyone who would like to get involved to get in touch with me.

Last month, I was delighted to join St George’s Day celebrations in Selby, where we saw members of local scout groups take part in a fantastic parade through our town. We know that the challenges we face as a country are daunting, and that there is a huge amount of work to do, but I am hopeful for our future when I attend events like these. They are positive expressions of national and civic pride, and they remind us why we should all be proud to be British, proud to be English, and proud to live in Selby. As ever, if you or anyone you know might benefit from my support, please don’t hesitate to send me an email at keir.mather.mp@parliament.uk.

Thank you - and have a very special VE Day.