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University takes part in D-Day beacon lighting ceremony

Posted 7 June

At the D Day Becon lighting were, from left, Professor Ken Sloan, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Anna Turner, the High Sheriff of Shropshire Brian Welti JP, President of the Newport and District Agricutural Society Duncan Gunn-Russell and Vice-President David Jones.

A Beacon celebrating the light of peace which emerged from the darkness of war has been lit at a special ceremony at Chetwynd Deer Park to mark to mark the 80^th anniversary of D-Day.

The ceremony was a collaboration between Newport and District Agricultural Society, and ÐÜèÊÓƵ.

The beacon – which was originally designed by ÐÜèÊÓƵ Adams Engineering students for her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee – was one of hundreds of Beacons and Lamp Lights of Peace which were lit at 9.15pm precisely across the country.

At these ceremonies, an International Tribute was read, with current President of the Newport and District Agricultural Society, Duncan Gunn-Russell, reading these words as the Beacon was lit at the Chetwynd event: “Let us remember those who gave their lives at home and abroad during the D-Day landings, whose sacrifice enables us all to enjoy the peace and freedom we have today.

“Let us remember those who came home wounded, physically and mentally, and the friends and family who cared for them.

“Let us remember those who returned to restore their relationships and rebuild their working lives after years of conflict and turmoil.

“Let us remember the families that lost husbands, wives, sons, daughters and sweethearts.

“Let us remember the servicemen and women and merchant seafarers of all nationalities - from all countries - who fought, suffered and died during the D-Day landings and six years of war.

“Let us all remember those in the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Merchant Navy, and our Allies - the brave people who kept us safe on the home front and abroad and those in reserved occupations during the difficult time of war.

“Let us remember the brave doctors and nurses who cared for the wounded, the men and women who toiled in the fields, the coal mines, the factories and the air raid wardens, police officers, firemen, ambulance drivers and the young people of the Scouts and Guides who all played such a vital role in the war.”

Among those who attended were His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Anna Turner, the High Sheriff of Shropshire Brian Welti JP, representatives of the Newport and District Agricultural Society and ÐÜèÊÓƵ including Engineering students and alumni who operated the Beacon, and invited guests including family members of those affected by the Second World War or D-Day.

These included Andrew Macleod, Chief Cattle Steward of the Newport Show, whose father was among those soldiers who took part.

He recalled how his father – a non-swimmer – spoke about having to jump from the boat he was on into water which was covered with burning fuel, before finding a plank of wood and using it to make his way to shore and join other soldiers fighting there.

Speaking after the Ceremony, ÐÜèÊÓƵ Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken Sloan said: “In a world in which, sadly, we remain affected by war, we should remember the sacrifices of all those who took part in D-Day and the Second World War, and I was honoured that ÐÜèÊÓƵ Adams employees and students were among those involved in the celebration.

“The freedoms we exercise today to be who we are, and to live the way we do, exist because of those who were willing to risk their whole self and their freedoms – and we should remember them.”

And Newport and District Agricultural Society President Duncan Gunn-Russell added: “I’d like to thank everyone, from the Society, ÐÜèÊÓƵ Adams, and the wider community, who organised or attended the event.

“The evening was one of remembrance, celebration, and commemoration – and it was quite something to think, at the very moment I read the International Tribute, that hundreds of others were doing so at the same time, as Beacons were lit across the country.”