80th Anniversary of D-Day, June 2024
Locally, nationally, and internationally, a huge number of very special events took place in June 2024 to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, perhaps the last that participating veterans would be able to attend.
Locally in Hungerford, the events included:
An early draft programme of events
6th June: The D-Day 80 Proclamation:
This was admirably read by our Bellman and Town Crier, Julian Tubb, at 8.00am in front of a group of dignitaries on the Town Hall steps. (Video by kind permission of Oxygen Photography):
The full programme:
The full programme can be viewed here.
Details of the military convoy can be viewed here.
28th June:
The weekend of celebrations began with the 1940s IJO Big Band dance in the Corn Exchange:
29th June: Historical Talks:
The first of the morning's talks
The stone commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Operation Overlord:
In 2023 the volunteer Commemorative Convoy team comprising Veterans and Royal British Legion Riders Branch members, approached the town council with the idea of (a) bringing our official convoy to the town and (b) building an event around the arrival of the convoy.
The Town Council worked with the Commemorative Convoy team (led by John Leete) to build a weekend of events.
The Convoy added value with the Defence Academy Military Wives Choir, the Gordon School Pipes and Drums and the Poppy Parachute Team.
The commemorative stone on the common was funded, installed and dedicated entirely from our own resources
We wish to acknowledge all the help and support given by local donors and supporters.
The stone commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Operation Overlord, 1944-2024,
near the Down Gate.