Bideford marks D-Day 80 with stirring tunes and a blazing beacon

Bideford marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day with a special event that included the lighting of a beacon, music and a poignant tribute to those who gave their all to make the invasion of Normandy possible eight decades ago.

Bideford Town Council organised the event at the Pollyfield Centre yesterday (June 6) to enable the community to honour all those who played their part in the D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, which brought about the beginning of the end of World War Two.

Above: Bideford Youth Pipe Band. Credit: BTC

The evening began with music from Bideford Youth Pipe Band, with the centre decorated with bunting, flags and ‘Tommy’ silhouettes in remembrance of the nation’s war dead.

Above: The Liberty Sisters and (below) Bideford Town Crier

Bideford Town Crier started the official proceedings with the official cry, then The International Tribute was read by the town clerk. 

The official D-Day beacon, part of the Pageantmaster’s beacon lighting ceremonies taking place around the UK to mark the anniversary, was lit by Bideford Mayor Rachel Clarke at 9.15pm, which would have coincided with beacons around the world and on the Normandy beaches.

Above: Mayor Rachel Clarke with the D-Day beacon lit in the background

She then read out the specially prepared local Roll of Honour and piper Mike Harper played a lament before the evening was rounded off with the National Anthem. 

Tribute was paid to everyone involved in the landings and included the region’s fishermen, farmers, land girls and growers.

The popular Liberty Sisters performed two sets with iconic wartime music from the 1940s that saw many singing and some dancing. 

The town council thanked the girls for the long journey to Bideford and hope they enjoyed it as much as everyone who was there did. 

Above: Piper Mike Harper. Credit: BTC

Tourism committee chairman Jude Gubb also thanked everyone who had been involved in setting up the event and to those families who had sent information about their loved ones who were involved in the D-Day landings.