The 6th of June 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the beginning of the Battle of Normandy.
To mark the occasion a series of events have been planned to take place around the globe and in towns and cities across the UK. The events have been initiated by the UK Pageant Master, who has issued full details of the history of D-Day and the events and people involved, together with a guide on how local communities can be involved. You can see this guide here.
With this in mind, Finedon Town Council have agreed to a day of activities being planned by Steve Thatcher who is the Secretary of the local Royal British Legion Branch. Steve is working in partnership with the Council, the Regimental Association R Anglian Regiment, St Mary The Virgin Church and local schools as well as performers who are all coming together to deliver a full program of events for the day.
The morning of Thursday 6th June will start with a Proclamation being read by one of our local councillors and the raising of The Flag of Peace at the Finedon War Memorial at 9am. There will also be the opportunity for organisations and individuals to lay a wreath at that time (details of how to order a wreath will be posted on the Finedon Town Facebook page).
At 11.30am, local schools will be reading a specially written poem “D-Day Heroes” written by Roy Palmer, a Chelsea Pensioner and Herald from the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
At 6.30pm the Finedon Bellringers will be joining churches from around the world with a “Ringing Out for Peace”.
The main event of the day will take place at 7.30pm in St Mary The Virgin Church with an Evening of Reflection. This will include prayers, poems, readings, hymns, performances of music from the era, plus a special piece called “Our Local Heroes” which will remember the four local Finedon men who died either at D-Day or during the Battle for Normandy which followed. Following the evening event, there will be the opportunity for those attending to take refreshments in the Church, prior to proceeding outside to take part in the “Lighting of the Beacons” and a final piece for the day called “The International Tribute” which again will be read by one of our town councillors. This coincides with beacons and lanterns being lit around the world to mark the event.
Everyone is invited to attend events throughout the day.
No tickets are required for the evening event in the Church and all attending are encouraged to bring their own lanterns (not oil or paraffin please).
