Moving ceremonies commemorate D-Day’s 80th anniversary

Towns and parishes across the borough held beacon lighting ceremonies at 9.15pm on Thursday, June 6, to remember what prime minister, Rishi Sunak, dubbed ‘humanity’s most audacious military campaign’.

Northwich, Winsford, and Knutsford town councils held services at Verdin Park, Winsford Marina, and the Centennial War Memorial, while Winsford also held a special ceremony to rededicate the town’s war memorial after it was restored and relocated to the town’s new civic square.

Parish councils including Barnton, Oakmere & Delamere, Weaverham, and Hartford all held their own ceremonies, each a communal act of remembrance for the estimated 65,000 British services personnel killed or injured in the operation to retake western Europe for the Nazis in 1944. 

Northwich councillors and residents came together in Verdin Park to light the own's beacon at 9.15pm (Image: Northwich Town Council)

Northwich town mayor, Cllr Kate Cernik, said: “It was a very moving ceremony in Verdin Park honouring the sacrifices made by our service people on D-Day.

“Local people and councillors came together in an act of remembrance. It was a very positive and uplifting experience.

“There are lots veterans who live in Northwich, and I’ve had the honour to meet many of them, including last night.

Standard bearers from the Royal British Legion at Winsford's war memorial rededication ceremony (Image: Stacey Jones)“We’re a town which punches well above its weight, and we have a very strong community, which includes our veterans past and present.

“As a community, we will always strive to remember those who’ve given their lives so we can live ours in peace.”

D-Day 2024 was an especially big day for Winsford, where as well as a beacon lighting ceremony, the newly refurbished warm memorial was also officially re-dedicated. Winsford's beacon on the marina island was one of hundreds lit across the UK at 9.15pm (Image: Philip Carden)

Town mayor, Wayne Fletcher, said: “It was quite a special day for Winsford. They were both wonderful events and there was an excellent turnout.

“I was genuinely touched by how many people in town stopped and bowed their heads for the silence, even those who hadn’t come for the service itself.

“The British Legion did a tremendous job, and Kier, who’re developing the new square, were faultless getting everything ready in time.

Knutsford town mayor, Colin Banks, with Scouts representative, Lucas Cronan, in front of the town's beacon (Image: Knutsford Town Council)

“The memorials look spot on after the restoration - clean and fabulous.

“It was a very touching ceremony. Children from five local schools read poems they wrote personally, and they did themselves and their families proud.

“The junior mayor, Nevaeh Rustage, stole the show. She read the longest poem, and she read it flawlessly. As the grown-up mayor, I was beaming with pride.

Weaverham celebrated in style with free food and drink at the community centre (Image: Gillian Edwards)

“The look on her mum’s is something I’ll never forgot.

“Winsford really values its veterans, and going forward, the new square will mean our remembrances services will be bigger and better than ever."

Weaverham parish council chairman, Gillian Edwards, said: "What can I say - it was an amazing commemoration for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. A huge well done everyone involved. 

"It was such a such wonderful community collaboration. We started off with a beautiful service at St Mary's Church, Weaverham, led by Rev Paul Withington and Mike Sanders. 

"It was a really lovely, thought provoking service, followed by a visit to the war graves within the church to lay poppies, thanks to Jules Sanders.

"We were honoured to have the Royal British Legion standard bearers participating. The church bells then rang for peace along with many churches throughout the country."

The beacon lit at Old Pale Hill to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day (Image: Caroline Topping)

At Old Pale Hill, Delamere and Oakmere Parish Council gathered with the community to light a beacon in remembrance of the tens of thousands of Allied forces who gave their service on D-Day to help secure peace.

A tribute was read by Navy veteran and parish resident Oscar Austin to the 170-strong gathering who joined in the celebration.

Caroline Topping, chairman of the parish council, organised the event and said it had been a team effort with help and support from Forestry England, the café at Delamere Station House, and Alexander Caravans from Oakmere.