Tony, who lives in Ashworth Park, was living in Stanley Road in Knutsford at the time when the town joined in the nationwide VE Day celebrations.

He said: “During the war the government allowed circuses and fairgrounds to carry on, and from 1940 on the fairground came onto the small Heath.

“The fair was there the weekend before VE Day, and it was due to pack up and go, but VE Day came along and it stayed another week to celebrate.

“There wasn’t a street party in Stanley Road, but a kind of street party on what is now Booths, which in those days was the prison site.

“It had been demolished and was an open area with all the air raid shelters on it.

“People from Stanley Road, Bexton Road and St John’s Road all got together and had a bit of a bean feast.

“Where I lived in Stanley Road faced Cranford Lodge Hospital, which was the hospital for the prisoner of war camp at Toft Hall.”

The options for marking this year’s VE Day, the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe, are limited because of the coronavirus lockdown.

However to record the occasion Tony is hoping to arrange to have a photograph taken, respecting social distancing, with neighbours from the Scout group on his front lawn around flags including the Union Jack and district Scout and Cub flags.

He said: “I have flag holder which takes five takes flags, which I’m hoping to put on my front lawn.

“Two doors from me I have a Cub leader, opposite me I’ve got a Beaver, and a bit further down I’ve got a Scout.

“I’m hoping to get them six feet apart around the flags and get a photograph taken as a Knutsford Scouts commemoration of VE Day, because it’s very important that we mark the event.”

Knutsford Royal British Legion standard bearer Malcolm Thomas will be taking part in a commemoration with a difference to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

In view of the coronavirus lockdown branch chairman John Walker has given Malcolm, who lives in Congleton, permission to parade the branch standard outside the Knutsford area for this year’s VE anniversary.

Malcolm is also branch vice-chairman, and will parade the standard at the bottom of his drive at 11am in view of his neighbours’ homes.

The event will follow the traditional pattern of Remembrance Day, and Malcolm’s neighbours are being invited to attend the occasion, while respecting social distancing.

Malcolm’s wife Linda, who is branch secretary, said: “It’s a great disappointment to the branch that we are not able to do something for VE Day to collectively recollect the event and commemorate those who died and those who survived the war.

“Malcolm will parade the standard in his full uniform at the bottom of our drive.

“There are about eight houses within sight of our drive, and if our neighbours wish to join in, while maintaining social distancing, they are very welcome.

“It will follow the routine as at Remembrance Day – I will recite the Exhortation, a recording of The Last Post will be played and Malcolm will then dip the standard.

“We will have a two-minute silence, the Reveille will play and I will recite the Kohima Epitaph.”

How are you marking the 75th anniversary of VE Day? Share your pics with the Guardian below.