D-Day 80 – Remembrance and Commemorations in Broadway

Broadway commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day with a day of remembrance with which the whole village could be involved. Vicar Shellie Ward reflects on the day.

“The D-Day commemorations started for us with a team of people putting up some bunting and the shops on the High Street decorating their windows for the Brownies in Broadway to judge. 

On 5 June I joined the Brownies as they judged the windows – Tisanne’ s Teashop came first and Rikki Tikki came second.  There were several shops that went beyond decorating just with Union Jacks and bunting.  The winner Tisanne’s (a tea shop) decorated with Dad’s Army and Tea tins that said rationing on them and big 80 balloons in the window.  Rikki Tikki, a toy shop, used their toys – soldiers, planes and a bunny reading an old newspapers.  My personal favourite was Cotswold Building Supplies who had put so much detail into their window.

On 6 June the day started with  a procession of Brownies and Rainbows from the Library to The Lygon Arms who had a D-Day 80 logo Flag flying.  They were lead by Mr Nichaolas Wentworth-Stanley D.L. who read a proclamation given for D-Day 80 to the crowd that had gathered there.

A team of people then put up a Gazebo behind the – ‘Lest we forget solider’ on the Green – I did wonder if a caption competition could be held for the number of men it takes to carry a Gazebo!  We were then invited for bacon butties before holding a 10.50am Act of Remembrance at the War memorial.

At the Act of Remembrance we were joined by Mr Nichaolas Wentworth-Stanley D.L. who placed a D-Day 80 wreath on the war memorial, and the British Legion (Broadway).  Both Broadway First School and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School attended and the pupils read poems entitled ‘Normandy’ and they also placed a wreath.  Crosses made and decorated by Elysium Health Cotswold Spa School were placed by the pupils on the war memorial and also at the feet of the solider on the green. A large crowd gathered to remember D-Day 80.

Then we picnicked on the green with fish and chips. The fish and chip van (Starship enterprise) turned up on the green and people then spent most of the day on the green with music being played.  From 4.30pm – 7pm there were crafts for the families. 

Some of the children posed for the photographer from the Evesham observer and enjoyed making poppies and planes.  Purple Spider came to help with the crafts where children painted poppies on candle holders.

At 9pm we held a Churches Together in Broadway Remembrance Service lighting a Lamp of Peace where MP Nigel Huddleston also took part.  Readings were read by local churches and parish councillors, which  included a speech by King George VI and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address from 6 June. It began with words from Churchill. 

Memories from family members who were involved in D-Day were read and the Lamp of Peace was lit following the D-Day 80 tribute and tea-lights placed on the war memorial. The service concluded with the National Anthem and as the sky got darker you could see the war memorial lit with the tea-lights and red flood lamps so it glowed in the evening sky.  It was a poignant and beautiful end to the day.

We will remember them!”