The Royal British Legion’s VE Day commemorations will enable people to participate remotely during the lockdown.

This year the Legion is asking residents to remember the service and sacrifice of the Second World War generation as well as people who have died from coronavirus.

Major Charles Wilson (pictured), vice-chairman of the island’s branch of the RBL told the Examiner: ’As Britain’s guardian of Remembrance, the Royal British Legion is adopting a different approach this year.

’It is important that we continue to remember and to honour our war dead.

’This year the Legion is also asking everyone to remember the tragic losses that we have suffered because of the corona virus.’

Residents are asked to observe a two-minute silence at 11am on Friday.

A VE Day 75 programme will then be livestreamed from 11.15am to midday on the RBL’s website www.rbl.org.uk/ veday75

It will see people share their stories and memories of the Second World War and recognise the difficulties people are experiencing today.

Hosted by TV presenter Sonali Shah, the programme will feature contributions from social historian Julie Summers and cook and influencer Melissa Helmsley.

The Legion has partnered with the BBC to honour and celebrate the Second World War generation with an evening of memories and music from 8pm on BBC One.

The programme will include a sing-a-long of ’the Forces’ sweetheart’ Dame Vera Lynn’s ’We’ll Meet Again’ at 9pm.

Meanwhile, the plan is to commemorate all of the island’s military remembrance occasions of 2020 - VE Day, Armed Forces Day, VJ Day and Armistice Day - at a ceremony in the Villa Marina, Douglas, on November 22.