D-Day 80 Year Celebrations: What's Happening Near You?

Beacons across the country will be lit at 9.15pm on June 6, in celebration of the ‘light of peace’ that emerged out of the darkness of war.

Seaford: The event will begin at 6.30pm with the ringing of bells by local churches. The Mayor of Seaford Town council invites residents and visitors to join them on Thursday, June 6 for the lighting of the beacon at Splash Point. At 8pm there will be an address from the Mayor, a proclamation from the Town Crier, entertainment from Seaford Silver Band and the lighting of the beacon in alignment with nationwide events at 9.15pm by Seaford Bonfire Society.

Horsham: June 6: St Mary’s Church in Horsham’s Causeway will be the focus of a ‘Ringing out for Peace’ bell ringing ceremony at 6.30pm to which the whole community is invited. This is part of a national initiative and churches across the country will be taking part.

Rev’d Canon Lisa Barnett of St Mary’s Church will lead prayers in the Carfax at 7.15pm. There will then be entertainment on the Bandstand from The Spinettes who will perform a wide selection of war time favourites and retro hits from the 1940s to the present day.

Councils and communities across the country have been invited to celebrate the D-Day anniversary by lighting a Beacon. Representatives from the Royal British Legion, Horsham District Council, and St Mary’s Church will come together to light the Beacon at 9 pm at the War Memorial. Further prayers of commemoration will be held. There will be a short address by the Council’s Chairman Cllr Nigel Emery and the Chairman of the Horsham Branch of the Royal British Legion.

The D-Day flag will then be lowered.

The Beacon will be lit at the same time as the five Beacons that will be lit along the beaches of Normandy, representing the light of peace after the darkness of war.

Eastbourne: The Mayor of Eastbourne will be commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day at local events on Thursday, June 6.

People are invited to attend a short ceremony outside the Town Hall at 9am when a D-Day 80 Flag of Peace is raised as the Mayor leads a minute's silence, followed by a short reading. The flag will remain flying for a week.

The Mayor will also be attending a D-Day Remembrance Service at the Eastbourne War Memorial Houses in Victoria Drive at 11am.

During the evening, the Mayor will be taking part in a D-Day Memorial event at Pevensey Castle which is invitation-only.

East Wittering: On June 6, Downview Hall in East Wittering, in conjunction with East Wittering and Bracklesham Parish Council and the Women’s Institute (WI), will host its commemoration marking 80 years since the historic D-Day landings.

The schedule for the evening is as follows: 19:00: Doors open to the public. 19:15: Spectacular Spitfire flypast, echoing the bravery of the pilots who fought in the skies above Normandy. 19:20: History Group photos of ‘The Wittering at War’ in Downview Hall, providing a poignant glimpse into the area's wartime past and the contributions of local residents to the war effort. 19:30: Tea, Coffee, and Cake served for a small charge in Downview Hall, accompanied by the comforting melodies of WW2 music, thanks to the Women’s Institute (WI) ladies, and poppy planting. 20:00: Recitation of the poem 'Tommy' and an invitation extended to all children to lay a knitted poppy, facilitated by the WI, symbolising remembrance and gratitude. 20:15: Introduction of the Community Warden, Drew Allardice, who will be lighting a Beacon of hope and remembrance, symbolising the enduring legacy of the sacrifices made on D-Day. 21:00: The British Legion Standard Bearer will read out The Fallen, lowering the Standard and laying a commemorative wreath in their memory, followed by a solemn 1-minute silence, honouring the ultimate sacrifice of those who gave their lives. 21:15: Drew will light the Beacon and say a few words of reflection. 21:30: Event draws to a close.

University of Chichester: Local residents  are invited to join the university for a special event on Thursday 6 June on their Bishop Otter campus.

The event will begin with an Act of Remembrance lead by the University’s Chaplain Reverend Dr Alison Green on Cloisters Lawn at 10.55am.

This will be followed by a public lecture by Professor Hugo Frey, Professor of Cultural and Visual History; ‘D-Day on Film: Imagining the Battle for Normandy in Pictures and Memories’. Professor Frey’s lecture will explore the story of how D-Day has been portrayed in films such as The Longest Day, The Big Red One, and Saving Private Ryan. It will explore how each generation has re-created their own stories and pictures about the D-Day landings.

The University has a unique connection to D-Day, as one of its rooms (E124) was commissioned as the Operations Room for RAF Tangmere. During the D-Day operations, RAF Tangmere played a key role, as it became the base for several squadrons for offensive actions. Throughout the war, RAF Tangmere was the control centre for both offensive and defensive squadrons. 

Free tickets can be booked at https://www.chi.ac.uk/event/d-day-80th-anniversary-commemoration/

Parking is available on campus subject to availability and is pay by phone for £1.90 per hour.

Ditchling: Thursday, June 6: A commemoration service attended by HM Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex will be held at Ditchling War Memorial at 11am.

Hailsham: Thursday, June 6: A service organised by the Royal British Legion Hailsham & District Branch will take place at the Hailsham War Memorial at 6.30am to mark the anniversary.

Peacehaven: Thursday, June 6: A short service will be held at the War Memorial at 10.45am. An evening event held in front of the Gateway Café, to mark the anniversary will start at 6pm.

The event will include local churches taking part in the Ringing Out for Peace, live music, children’s activities and the reading of the Tribute. The beacon will be lit at 9.15pm.

Rotherfield: Sunday, June 9: A commemoration service will take place at Rotherfield War Memorial on Court Meadow Green at 10am. If wet the service will be held in St Denys’ Church.

Ripe: Sunday, June 9:  Morning Service will be held at Ripe Church at 10.30am.

Crowborough: The event at Goldsmiths Leisure Centre will start at 6.30pm when there will be a recording of church bells, ringing for peace. This will be followed by a welcome from the Mayor. There will be readings and speeches as well as a drill display from the RAF Air Cadets, a Police Dog display and 1940s music.

At 9.15pm the Crowborough beacon will be lit in line with the lighting of beacons across the rest of the country.

Uckfield: A family event will be held at Victoria Pleasure Ground with activities from 6pm to 9.15pm, when the beacon will be lit.

There will be live music, a bbq and games, followed by a proclamation by the Town Crier and the lighting of the beacon.

Heathfield: Heathfield & District Bonfire Society, with the support of Heathfield & Waldron Parish Council, will be putting on a local community event at Cade Street Recreation Ground, Old Heathfield.

The event will run from 7.30pm to 9.30pm and there will be music and a wreath laying ceremony before the beacon is lit.