Worcester to mark D-Day’s 80th anniversary with series of events

Worcester City Council is arranging the week's activities leading up to the D-Day anniversary on Thursday, June 6.

To start the week on Saturday, June 1, Colonel Stanford Cartwright will discuss the Worcester Regiment and its role in D-Day at the Guildhall.

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From Thursday 6 to Saturday, June 8, displays telling the story of D-Day, the Second World War, and the city's contribution to the war effort will be available for viewing at the Guildhall from 10am to 4pm.

A new exhibition will debut at the Museum of the Worcestershire Soldier and Worcester City Museum and Art Gallery from Tuesday, May 28.

The Worcester Yeomanry Museum plans to live report the Regimental War Diary on its Facebook page on D-Day.

On the same day, the official commemoration will start at 9.15am in Cathedral Square with the raising of the flag, and a recital of the School’s Poem by students from Tudor Grange Academy and Tudor Grange Academy Perdiswell at 11am.

In the evening, a commemoration event from 7pm at Fort Royal Park will feature the raising of the flag, choir and brass band performances, and a drum head ceremony.

The Mayor of Worcester, Mel Alcott, will lead a tribute to those who fought on D-Day and a Service of Remembrance.

The Last Post will play before a beacon is lit at 9.15pm by the Mayor.

Another event will be held at Cathedral Square on Saturday, June 8 for those who could not make it to the commemorations.

There will be a large screen, re-enactors, and other activities from 10am to 4pm.

The Royal British Legion will also be in attendance, before a closing down ceremony at 4pm led by the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment.

Pat Agar, the council’s armed forces champion, said: "We have a host of events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

"Make sure you don’t miss out, join us to commemorate a significant moment in history 80 years on."