A MEMORIAL service to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day is being held at the Centennial War Memorial in Knutsford.
The commemoration will be held at 8.45pm on Thursday, June 6 in the library gardens on Toft Road.
The service will be led by Knutsford mayor Cllr Colin Banks and his chaplain Rev Paul Deakin.
Afterwards, the town will join communities across the country to light a beacon.
All are welcome.
The D-Day landings of 6 June 1944 was the largest seaborne invasion in history.
Along with the associated airborne operations, it marked the beginning of the liberation of France and western Europe.
St Oswald’s Church in Lower Peover is marking the anniversary with a series of special events.
A commemorative exhibition will be held at the church from Saturday, June 1 to Sunday, June 9.
The exhibition explains the role the villages of Allostock, Lower Peover, Over Peover and Plumley played in the lead up to D-Day.
The area had a direct connection with this auspicious occasion.
US Generals Dwight Eisenhower and George Patton met to discuss plans for D-Day over lunch at The Bells of Peover.
Peover Hall, Over Peover was requisitioned by General Patton as the headquarters for the US 3rd Army.
The display includes information about the secret factory at Plumley where aviation fuel was made.
The Cranage airbase, Home Guard and Shakerley Wood, Toft Hall Prisoner of War camp and parachute training at Tatton Park are also featured in the exhibition.
The exhibition will be open from 12pm to 7pm on Sunday and Wednesday and from 10am to 7pm on other days.
The display has been put together by Lower Peover parish village events committee.
A walk from St Oswald’s Church to St Lawrence’s Church, where General Patton worshipped, will be held at 10.30am on Thursday, June 6.
A plaque will be unveiled at The Bells of Peover at 1pm to commemorate the role that Peover played in the planning of D-Day.
This will be followed by fish and chip supper, which evokes fond war memories.
During the Second World War, fish and chips were never rationed as it was considered a key element in maintaining British morale.
During the D-Day landing, soldiers needed a way to identify friend from foe behind enemy lines at night.
They used a codeword system whereby one soldier would call out ‘fish’ and the other would reply with ‘chips’. This ensured they could recognise each other.
To commemorate all of this, The Bells of Peover will be serving takeaway fish and chips on the evening on June 6 from 5.30pm to 8pm.
Call 01565 722269 if you wish to make an order and take part.
An evening of readings and music will be held at St Oswald’s Church at 7pm on June 6.
Villagers who participated in the Battle of Normandy, including Ray Shickle who landed on D-Day, will be talking about their experiences.
To reserve a seat, free tickets are available from Roger Turner on 07900 343078 or George Dutton on 07968 798928.
A limited number of seats will be available on a first come first served basis for those without tickets.
The beacon at St Oswald’s Church will be lit at 9.15pm.
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