D-Day commemoration held at Pevensey Castle
Publish Date: 12 June 2024
A special 80th anniversary commemoration of the D-Day landings has been held at Pevensey Castle.
More than 200 guests were invited to attend the event, hosted by Wealden District Council and local authorities, East Sussex County Council, Rother District Council, Eastbourne Borough Council and Lewes District Council.
Among the guests invited to the event to remember the Normandy beach landings were the Deputy Lieutenant of Sussex, Royal British Legion, other military organisations and D-Day veterans.
The evening started with the chair of Wealden District Council, Councillor Jessika Hulbert giving a welcome speech to all the guests which was followed by Standards being paraded and musical performances from the Royal British Legion band and the Glenduart Pipers.
The order of service included The Exhortation, The Last Post, Reveille, the Kohima Epitaph and a prayer. The beacon was lit at the castle and the evening finished with the National Anthem.
Councillor Jessika Hulbert said, “Tonight we mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Normandy landings. D-Day was the largest naval, air and land operation in history. Planned over the course of years, it was an audacious and incredible achievement in military planning and logistics.
“We should all remember, and never forget, the selfless sacrifice and courage of all those involved. We use this commemoration to pay tribute to those who gave so much to secure the peace, freedom and democracy we all enjoy today.”
Trevor Scott, Wealden District Council’s chief executive, said, “I would like to thank everyone who joined us to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. It is a momentous part of our history, and the event was held to pay tribute to veterans who served during the war.
“I would like to give a special thank you to the local authorities we partnered with for the event and also to English Heritage for the use of Pevensey Castle, the Concert Band of the Royal British Legion Little Common and the Glenduart Pipers for our musical accompaniment, and the Eastbourne Bonfire Society for helping us safely light and extinguish the beacon.”