THE community was out in force in Newquay to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Hundreds of people attended a commemoration event held at the Huer’s Hut, which included veterans, military personnel, dignitaries, members of Newquay Royal British Legion, Royal Air Force Association RAF St Mawgan, cadets, scouts and residents.

The commemoration event was organised by the Newquay Royal British Legion Branch in partnership with Newquay Town Council to mark the largest seaborne invasion in history, and the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe.

St Mawgan Military Wives Choir performed various poignant and rousing songs including We’ll Meet Again, Bring Him Home and In Flanders Fields.

The St Mawgan Military Wives Choir performed a number of poignant songs (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

The St Mawgan Military Wives Choir (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

The crowd swayed and joined in a number of songs such as a war time favourites medley.

Town crier Simon Anderson Jones read out the international tribute.

Town Crier Simon Anderson Jones reads out the international tribute (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

Mayor Cllr Drew Creek lit a beacon to honour the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought, which was part of a wider initiative across the allied nations to mark the anniversary.

Miss England Mila Magee, Ian Millar from Newquay Royal British Legion and Mayor Drew Creek at the remembrance event (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

Newquay's D-Day 80th anniversary beacon (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

The national anthem and the last post were performed as the sun went down.

The standards were raised as the Last Post was played (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )
The Mayor, Scouts and Miss England Milla Magee gather around the beacon (Picture: Warren Wilkins) ( )

Cllr Creek said: “It was wonderful to see so many from our community come out to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day and remember those that gave the ultimate sacrifice on the beaches of Normandy.

“My thanks go to the veterans and town council staff for putting together such a poignant act of remembrance together, for which it was an honour to play a small part in the lighting of the beacon.”

Wing Commander Helen Simpson, the Station Commander at RAF St Mawgan, added: “It has been wonderful for us at RAF St Mawgan to be a part of the community taking part in the remembrance.

“It is important for us to remember key events like this in the community for future generations.”

Chris Cox, the chairman of the RAF St Mawgan Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association, said: “It was humbling to parade our branch standard along with the Royal British Legion and others at the evening event to honour our predecessors who began the liberation of Europe eighty years ago.

“Quite a crowd assembled making it a very special evening.”

Chris Cox with the standard bearers ( )

Ian Millar from Newquay Royal British Legion said: “I’m here honouring my uncle Tom Millar who was part of the D-Day landings on Sword Beach. His job was to take apart a radar station and bring it back to Britain.”

Miss England Milla Magee, who was also in attendance, said: “It was such an honour to be a part of the remembrance event to honour our nation’s heroes.”

Earlier in the day town crier Simon Anderson Jones read a D-Day proclamation at the Huer’s Hut, which was followed by a flag raising ceremony at the town council offices in Marcus Hill.