Knaresborough will be joining the nation in marking 80 years since the D-Day landings tomorrow (Thursday).
The town will be hosting a special event to remember the tens of thousands of allied forces who helped secure the peace we in the UK enjoy today.
The day will start at 8am on Thursday at the Market Cross, with the Town Crier joining nearly 400 criers around the globe to undertake the D-Day 80 Proclamation written specially for the occasion by the Honourable Guild of Town Criers’ Chairman, Christian Ashdown, formerly of the Household Cavalry.
Knaresborough Town Council and the Knaresborough branch of The Royal British Legion have announced that our town’s commemorations will continue in the evening in the grounds of Knaresborough Castle, where there will be music and songs from 1940’s.
Knaresborough Silver Band will play, there will be ceremonial parades, a Service of Remembrance and at 9:15pm Knaresborough will join with other towns and parishes across the UK for the national beacon lighting and the International Tribute will be read.
Thursday (6th June) is also National Fish and Chip Day.
This year National Fish and Chip Day will recognise the huge importance of fish and chips during WWI and WWII, and on D-Day in particular.
Fish and chips were called ‘Good Companions’ by Winston Churchill who ensured they weren’t rationed as he felt it would be detrimental to the morale of the nation.
Knaresborough Town Council are inviting residents to look out for local businesses and Fish and Chip shops in Knaresborough offering ‘D-Day Deals.’
And, weather permitting, residents will be able to enjoy a fish and chip picnic in the Castle grounds from 7pm alongside music played by Knaresborough Silver Band.
Local singer Clare Robinson will also perform songs from the 1940’s from the Town Council’s new trailer stage.
The ceremonial element of the evening begins at 8pm.
The Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps will parade, followed by a Service of Remembrance at the War Memorial led by Revd Garry Hinchcliffe and the national lighting of the beacon at 9:15pm.
The Knaresborough branch of The Royal British Legion will have a stall at the event at which special commemorative D-Day 80 lapel badges will be available.
Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster of D-Day80 and of the 80-day countdown, said:
“In 1944 Allied forces mounted the largest amphibious invasion the world has ever witnessed.
“Operation Overlord, D-Day, saw over 5,000 ships and landing craft set down more than 150,000 troops on the five Normandy beaches that would bring about the liberation of north-west Europe from Nazi occupation.
He added:
“In order to commemorate the peace and freedom given to us through the bravery and ultimate sacrifice of so many thousands involved in the D-Day landings, and throughout the whole of WW11, beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace will be lit across the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories.
"And in a very poignant and unique gesture, special Lamp Lights of Peace lamps will be lit on each of the five beaches in Normandy, at 9.15pm local time that night, to coincide with the lighting of beacons at that time too.
“The light from the flames from the lamps and the beacons will represent the ‘light of peace’ that emerged from the darkness of war.”
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