Royal British Legion: Harwell Branch
This years annual D-Day Commemoration service will be held on 7th June at the Harwell Memorial located at the Harwell Campus (OX11 0PW).
The service starts at 1730, with the car park open from 1630. All are welcome to attend, those wishing to participate in a more formal manner, by laying a wreath, carrying a standard or any other manner, should get in touch with Peter Davies, peter.davies100@rafac.mod.gov.uk
This year marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, and as a significant milestone year, much like in 2014 and 2019, an event was held on 5th June in recognition of the aircrew and soldiers that took off from Harwell for the D-Day operations.
As part of the significant milestone year, being the 80th Anniversary since D-Day, Harwell Branch RBL, supported by Harwell Campus, organised a “Festival of Remembrance evening at the Memorial stone, and saw an exciting evening’s entertainment, with a mix of history, remembrance and musical entertainment.
Local Dignitaries from Harwell and Chilton Parish Councils, plus members of the Royal British Legion (RBL) from Harwell Branch and the RBL County accompanied the Deputy Lieutenant, Brig Dennis Blease the event’s Guest of Honour to a light buffet hosted by Harwell Campus before arriving at the Harwell memorial Stone to join the waiting public and marching band of the 1460 (Banbury) Squadron Air Training Corps, who offered musical accompaniment to the evening’s event with tunes from the period.
Steve Wright, a prominent D-Day Historian, and long-standing supporter of D-Day commemorations at Harwell gave a rousing historical retelling of the events leading up to 5th June, offering a feeling of what the airfield would have looked like 80 years ago, and detailing the operations the troops who left Harwell took part in.
A 2 minute silence was recognised after which a wreath was laid by the Guest of Honour.
Poppy Appeal collection buckets and card readers were circulating during the event and raised £644, with thanks to Hazel Benton for the effort put in.
Thanks are also due to Steve Guest, Natalie Gelder and Bex Duvall of Harwell Campus for hosting the invited guests with a light buffet, and proving chairs for the guests and, printing programmes, and to Alan Proctor (and team) for managing the car parking and event security.
Photos of the event can be found on the Branch Facebook page – Facebook link
Peter Davies
Harwell RBL Branch Ceremonial Officer
This year’s annual D-Day Service held at the Harwell Stone recognised the 80th anniversary since D-Day, was held on the evening of Saturday 8th June and was supported in great numbers in part thanks to the National press highlighting the significance of the anniversary year.
The event was once again well attended by local dignitaries, veterans, youth groups, representatives of local businesses and local residents, key amongst which was the Guest of Honour Lt Gen Andrew Harrison, the Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment.
The event was jointly organised by the Harwell Branch of the Royal British Legion and Stve Guest of Harwell Campus with the support of Harwell and Chilton Churches.
The parade was opened by a dynamic and exciting flying display by a Tiger Moth, organised by Rich Pillans, flown by Robin Russell of the Tiger-9 display team.
The Guest of Honour, Lt Gen Harrison joined the event fresh from his visit to Normandy, taking part in commemorations across the region, led the wreath laying and offered his own words of remembrance at the end of the service, pointing out in his 30+ years of visiting Normandy in early June, this was the first time he considered where in the UK those troops had taken off from.
A total of 42 wreaths were laid, from a wide scope of organisations: In additional to the guest of honour, there was another National Representative, the National Vice-Chair of the RBL, there was local authority representation from Didcot, Wantage and Abingdon Town Mayor’s, plus councillors from Chilton, Harwell and VOWH Councils, the armed forces in the shape of 4 Regt and 7 Regt from Dalton Barracks, and a representative from RAF Benson.
A large number of Veterans organisations across Oxfordshire and Berkshire attended, as well as representation from the campus business and other local organisations, which was concluded by Poppies and Crosses laid by Chilton School pupils.
A joint Guard of honour was formed by the Army Cadet Force, Didcot Detachment and the ATC made up of Wantage and Didcot Squadrons. There were 19 Standards on Parade carried by the RBL, Airbourne Association, Cadet Forces, and the Chilton Scouts.
The Service was conducted for the first time by Rev. Jeremy Parsons, and The Last Post was sounded by Richard Selvidge of the Wantage Silver Band.
Poppy Appeal collection buckets and card readers were circulating during the event and raised £382, with thanks to Hazel Benton and Peter Cox for their efforts.
Thanks are also due to Steve Guest of Harwell Campus for the site preparation and management, printing a significant number of service sheets and granting permission and access to hold the event, and to Alan Proctor (and team) for managing the car parking and event security.
Photos of the event can be found on the Branch Facebook page – Facebook link
Peter Davies
Harwell RBL Branch Ceremonial Officer
The annual D-Day Service held at the Harwell Stone was held on the evening of Saturday 3rd June and was well attended by local dignitaries, veterans, youth groups, representatives of local businesses and local residents.
The event was jointly organised by the Harwell Branch of the Royal British Legion and Duncan Rogers of Harwell Campus with the support of Harwell and Chilton Churches.
The parade’s popularity continues to grow with both new and regular organisations sending representatives. We also welcomed as Guest of Honour the Deputy Lieutenant Angus Horner who led the wreath laying and offered his own words of remembrance at the end of the service.
A total of 38 wreaths were laid, from a broad breadth of organisations: local Mayors from Didcot, Wantage and Abingdon, plus councillors from Chilton, Harwell and VOWH Councils, the armed forces in the shape of 4 Regt and 7 Regt from Dalton Barracks, 11 EOD&S Regt from Vauxhall Barracks and a representative from RAF Benson.
A large number of Veterans organisations across Oxfordshire and Berkshire attended, as well as representation from the campus business and other local organisations.
A Guard of honour was formed by the Wantage and Didcot Squadrons of the Air Training Corps joined by the first attendance of Neville Company of the Army Cadet Force. There were 22 Standards on Parade carried by the RBL, Airborne Association, Cadet Forces, and the Chilton Scouts.
The Service was conducted by Rev. Pam Rolls.The Last Post was sounded by Tony Hughes which was played after a flypast conducted courtesy of Rich Pillans (on the ground) and Paul McNulty (pilot) by a former Army Air Corps Slingsby T67 Firefly.
A collection was made for the Poppy Appeal which totalled £85.30
Thanks are also due to Duncan Rogers of Harwell Campus for the site preparation and management, printing a significant number of service sheets and granting permission and access to hold the event.
Photos of the event can be found via the Branch Facebook page – Harwell RBL Facebook page
The Branch Treasurer’s Flikr Account – Simon Haycox, via Flikr
And also in this Oxford Mail article
The inscription on the stone reads:
“THIS STONE MARKS THE END OF THE RUNWAY FROM WHICH AIRCRAFT OF No. 38 GROUP ROYAL AIR FORCE TOOK OFF ON THE NIGHT OF 5 JUNE 1944 WITH TROOPS OF THE 6th AIRBORNE DIVISION WHO WERE AMONG THE FIRST BRITISH SOLDIERS TO LAND IN NORMANDY ON THE MAIN ASSAULT FOR THE LIBERATION OF EUROPE”
Peter Davies
Harwell RBL Branch Ceremonial Officer
The annual D-Day Service held at the Harwell Stone returned on Saturday 4th June after a three year gap from its full format as a result of the pandemic. There was a virtual event in 2020, and live streamed minimal attendee event in 2021 so while Acts of Remembrance did continue throughout the pandemic, all were pleased to see a return to the full format permitting attendance in person.
Despite the clash with HM Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend the event was well attended, by local dignitaries, veterans and youth groups and local residents.
[Read more…] about 2022 D-Day Commemoration Service 4th June
Please follow the link below to watch the recording og the D-Day Commemoration Service on Saturday 5th June at 1730
Thanks to Mr Allan Macarthur for setting this up for us and for completing the filming.
Photos Courtesy of Bob Girling
