D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration Event
Published: 12 June 2024
D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration Event
On Thursday 6th June Knaresborough joined the nation in commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, to pay our respect and say thank you to all who sacrificed their lives in WW2, and the many that fought so bravely and returned home.
At 8am the commemorations began as Knaresborough Town Crier Mark Hunter made the official D-Day 80 Proclamation at the Market Cross and afterwards at the War Memorial. He used a bell dating from the war which was used by the ARP to warn of impending air-raids.
Our remembrance continued in the evening in the grounds of Knaresborough Castle, where residents were invited to come and enjoy a fish and chip picnic (6th June this year was also National Fish and Chip Day) in the Castle grounds from 7pm as Clare Robinson sang songs from 1940’s and the Silver Band played music of the era from the Town Council’s new trailer stage.
The ceremonial element of the evening began at 8pm as the Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps paraded with inspection by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Mr Simon Mackaness, followed by a Service of Remembrance led by Revd. Garry Hinchcliffe at the War Memorial.
The evening culminated with the lighting of the beacon which represents the ‘light of peace’ that emerged from the darkness of War, and the Mayor of Knaresborough Cllr Margy Longhurst read the International Tribute.
A big thank you goes to all the organisations and volunteers who gave their time and energy to make the day’s commemorations and the evening event such a poignant tribute to all those who served and gave their lives for the freedom we enjoy today.
Thanks to The Royal British Legion Knaresborough Branch, Knaresborough Revolution, Knaresborough Town Councillors, St John Ambulance, The Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps, Revd. Garry Hinchcliffe, Knaresborough Silver Band, Clare Robinson, Andrew and Christine Willoughby, North Yorkshire Council, and Castle Clinic Knaresborough.
Photographs by Sharon van Zelst
D-Day 80 Anniversary photos 1
D-Day 80 Anniversary photos 2
D-Day 80 Anniversary photos 3