Wimborne Minster Town Council would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making our D-Day 80th anniversary event a memorable and successful day. Special thanks go to the Wimborne Minster Folk Festival Committee, Radio Wimborne, SJ Hire, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, The Quarterjacks of Wimborne marching band, The Wimborne Militia, Wimborne Community Theatre, and The Royal Signals 280 NATO Sig Squadron. We also appreciate the food outlets for providing refreshments and all the performing acts (the Land Girls, Andy Kennett & Just Sing), including the school choirs from St James’ First School and St Michael’s Middle School, as well as the poets from Lockyer’s Middle School.
The day began with performances by the choirs of St James’ First School and St Michael’s Middle School, who sang songs from the D-Day wartime era. This was followed by the four winners of the poetry competition, all of whom attended Lockyer’s Middle School, reading their poems on stage. Subsequent performances included the Land Girls and rock and roll singer Andy Kennett. The evening concluded with a delightful performance by the “Just Sing” adult choir.
Everyone then processed from Willow Walk to the Wimborne Cemetery, where the Wimborne Militia fired a cannon to mark a two-minute silence. The Town Sergeant read an international tribute, followed by a poem from a veteran and a homily titled “They Shall Not Grow Old” read by the Town Mayor. The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service lit the beacon as part of an international beacon lighting ceremony.
Images: courtesy of Beatrice Dopita and Louise Harrison
![D Day 80 11](https://www.wimborne.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/135/2024/06/D-Day-80-11-scaled.jpg)
![D Day 80 13](https://www.wimborne.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/135/2024/06/D-Day-80-13-scaled.jpg)
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![School Choir 2](https://www.wimborne.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/135/2024/06/School-Choir-2.jpg)
![School Choir 1](https://www.wimborne.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/135/2024/06/School-choir-1.jpg)
![D Day 80 17](https://www.wimborne.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/135/2024/06/D-Day-80-17-scaled.jpg)
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![Land Girls](https://www.wimborne.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/135/2024/06/Land-Girls.jpg)