Herefordshire choir sings to royals and our D-Day services

Alongside national events, counties such as Herefordshire and their many towns and parishes marked D-Day’s 80th anniversary by lighting a beacon on June 6. The many beacons across the country were lit to represent the 'light of peace' that emerges from the darkness of war, along with various additional commemorative events to honour the largest seaborne invasion that history has ever known.

Ross-on-Wye’s commemorations were attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire, Edward Harley, Mrs Harley and D-Day Veterans Stanley Wilson and Peter Harkness on June 6. The event commenced in St Mary's Church with "The D-Day Story" told in video, pictures, music, and poetry. The service was shortly followed by the lighting of the town beacon on The Prospect by the Lord Lieutenant.

Leominster held their service on June 6, lighting a beacon at the Leominster Priory, while Bishop's Frome lit theirs after an evening of fireworks, games, races, food, drinks, and music.

The straw man D-Day beacon at Bishops Frome (Image: John Toolan)

In Kington, a service was held at the war memorial on Sunday to commemorate the anniversary.

A service was held in Kington to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day (Image: Andy Compton)

And Hereford Cathedral Choir travelled to France itself for the service of thanksgiving - organised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission - at Bayeux Cathedral, on Wednesday, June 5.

The choir was invited to sing in this high-profile service, attended by HRH The Princess Royal, veterans, their families, and international VIPs. On June 6, the choir also gave a short performance in the Basilica of Sainte-Thérèse de Lisieux and sang Choral Evensong in L’église St-Pierre de Caen later that day.

Hereford Cathedral Choir in 2023 (Image: Hereford Cathedral)

Geraint Bowen, director of music at Hereford Cathedral said what a “great honour” it was to receive the choir’s invitation.

“Our previous visit to Normandy in 2019 for the 75th anniversary was an unforgettable and moving experience for all involved,” Mr Bowen said.

The Revd. Canon Andrew Piper, precentor of Hereford Cathedral, expressed his gratitude to the “members of our congregation and Hereford Cathedral Choir Association who have so generously supported us in making this visit possible. We shall join with the people of France in giving thanks to God for the immense courage shown by those who fought their way up the beaches and began the liberation of Europe eighty years ago,” Revd. Piper said.

Another service of commemoration took place in Ledbury on Sunday, June 2 in St Michael and All Angels' Church. A small exhibition, created by Ledbury Royal British Legion to honour Ledbury’s D-Day soldiers, was displayed during the event and will remain on show for the week following the service, including Ledbury Community Day.

On June 6, an Act of Remembrance was held at the Ledbury War Memorial, with the Eardisley and District Branch of the RBL doing the same at St Mary Magdalene Church’s War Memorial, to remember the brave souls who risked or gave their lives for freedom from tyranny in the fateful assault known as D-Day.