Ceremony Held In Market Harborough On D Day Anniversary

Veterans and schoolchildren were among those at a flag-raising ceremony in Market Harborough today to mark the 80th anniversary of D Day.

It was held on Church Square at 9am, with a special flag raised on top of the Symington Building during the event.

Schoolchildren and others at today’s ceremony Pic: Andy Carpenter

Members of Market Harborough Royal British Legion, the town’s Naval Association and representatives from Harborough District Council were also there, together with watching members of the public.

RAF veteran John Timms spoke to HFM:

The VE Day 80 flag was raised on the Symington Building Pic: Andy Carpenter

The Normandy landings – by tens of thousands of allied forces – is the biggest seaborne invasion ever and was pivotal to the outcome of the Second World War.

Year six pupils from St Joseph’s Catholic Academy in Market Harborough watched the ceremony.

11-year-old pupils Jona Olivier and Lena Leska told HFM why it was important for them to be there:

Pic: Andy Carpenter

Lt Colonel David Young, Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire was also at the event and spoke to HFM:

Pic: Andy Carpenter

This evening a special church service will be held at at St Dionysius Church in Market Harborough and beacons will be lit in Lubenham and Lutterworth.

John Timms and Mike Tyndale-biscoe both servied in Cyprus during the 1950’s and met during the flag raising ceremony.
Pic: Andy Carpenter

Pic: Andy Carpenter