D-Day 80 Commemorations in Marlborough

Wiltshire Deputy Lieutenant, Charles Bartholomew, lit the beacon at 9.15pm

Today, June 6^th, Marlborough marked the 80^th anniversary of the D-Day landings which saw the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe. Commemorations began in Marlborough at 8 am this morning and ended on The Common this evening with the lighting of the beacon at 9.15pm.

Town Beadle, Linda Illsley, Mayor, Cllr Kym-Marie Cleasby and Town Beadle, Town Crier, Emma Kimber. Photo credit: Marlborough Town Council

At 8 am on the steps of the Town Hall, Marlborough Town Council paid tribute to those 150,000 allied troops who stormed the Normandy beaches on 6 June 1944. Town Crier, Emma Kimber, read the Proclamation honouring all those involved. She was accompanied by Marlborough’s Mayor, Cllr Kym-Marie Cleasby and Town Beadle, Linda Illsley.

We should all remember and never forget the selfless sacrifice and courage of all those involved and use this Commemoration to pay our tribute to those who gave so much to secure the freedom we all enjoy today.

At 6.30pm bell ringers at St Mary’s, Marlborough, St John the Baptist, Mildenhall and St George’s, Preshute joined with bell ringers nationwide in Ringing out for Peace – all the more poignant in our troubled world.

A large crowd gathered on The Common at 8.45pm for the beacon lighting event commencing with The BlueBelles singing a selection of six 1940’s songs including ‘White Cliffs of Dover‘, ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’ and ending with ‘We’ll meet again’.

The Mayor welcomed everyone and spoke about a legacy of courage and sacrifice and a personal reminiscence of the wartime experiences of her two grandfathers. “Their legacy lives on,” she said. This was followed by a prayer from the Mayor’s chaplain, the Rev Chris Smith, for those who made the “supreme sacrifice” and a plea to dedicate ourselves to “freedom, justice, and peace.”

Next the Mayor read the International Tribute: Let us remember those who gave their lives at home and abroad during the D-Day landings, whose sacrifice enables us all to enjoy the peace and freedom we have today.

Wiltshire Deputy Lieutenant, Charles Bartholomew, lit the beacon at 9.15pm in line with the many beacons being lit all over the country. The ceremony ended with the haunting and poignant sound of the bagpipes, played by Piper Lance Corporal Bowtell. The Mayor thanked everyone for coming and the mayoral party then mingled with the crowd.

This D-Day 80^th anniversary, marking the turning point in World War II, carries special significance this year – war is raging in Ukraine on Europe’s border and this may be the last D-Day anniversary where veterans of D-day will be present.