D-Day 80 Light of Peace
Badges for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day
The Lord Mayor of Chester will be lighting a beacon as part of the D-Day commemorations on 6 June at Chester Town Hall square starting at 9pm.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire Lady Redmond MBE, Matt Baker, Chester's Town Crier, City of Chester Brass Band, and Chester Male Voice Choir are among the special guests leading the commemoration. The beacon will be lit from a torch carried by Chester Roman Tours Soldiers.
D-Day 80 is the international commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on the five beaches in Normandy, France, on 6 June 1944.
Buildings in Chester, Ellesmere Port and Winsford will be illuminated red, white and blue between the 3 and 10 of June.
Order of commemoration
- 9pm: The Lord Mayor is joined on the Town Hall Steps by The Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire and the Chairman of the Council.
- 9pm: Welcome by Matt Baker and the City of Chester Brass band
- 9.04pm: Welcome by the Lord Mayor
- 9.05pm: Sheila Callaghan sings “We’ll meet again.”
- 9.08pm: Chester Town Crier proclamation9.10pm: Piper plays “Highland Laddie”
- 9.15pm: Chester Roman Soldier torch bearers arrive, and beacon is lit by the Lord Mayor and Lord-Lieutenant
- 9.20pm: Chester Male Voice Choir: “Bring Him Home” and “Tell My Father” Lucy Thatcher: “It’s A Lovely Day Tomorrow” and “White Cliffs of Dover”
- 10pm: Blessing from Chester Cathedral followed by National Anthem by the City of Chester Brass Band
Closing the commemoration, the bagpiper will lead the Lord Mayor and dignitaries to St Peter’s Church.
There will also be a D-Day Commemoration taking place in Winsford and Ellesmere Port.
On Thursday 6 June at 10.30am there will be a re-dedication of Winsford’s two war memorials following their restoration and relocation to a new square in front of the town’s library.
Winsford Town Council are holding a special remembrance ceremony at 9.15pm at the Marina Island for the lighting of a beacon.
In Ellesmere Port there is a wreath laying event by the Normandy Veterans Wirral and Chester at the Normandy Stone, Stanney Lane, on 6 June at Midday.
D-Day 80 has developed several ways for communities to take part in this special occasion, including:
- Beacons: Lighting a Beacon at 9.15pm on 6 June
- Lamp Light of Peace: Lighting a lamp at 9.15pm on 6 June.
- Ringing out for peace: The D-Day 80 campaign is encouraging every Cathedral and Church throughout the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man to ring their bells at 6.30pm on 6 June.
Further details: