MARGOT Billinge was moved to tears as she greeted the train named in honour of her late father, D-Day hero Harry Billinge.

Having travelled from her home in St Austell, Margot was at London Paddington to greet Intercity Express Train 802006 as it arrived on Platform 1 next to the station’s war memorial.

Great Western Railway (GWR) arranged the special train tribute ahead of Margot’s attendance at the D-Day 80th anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Margot said: “Dad would have been 99 this year and not a day goes by when I don’t think about him. I don’t think anyone can truly imagine what all those brave soldiers went through.

“We’ve got so much to thank them for and I just feel so incredibly emotional as we commemorate this special anniversary. It has been wonderful to see Dad’s train again. He was so proud when it was named in his honour.”

The train was named at a ceremony in Penzance in 2020.

GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “We were proud to name one of our Intercity Express Trains after Harry Billinge, who undoubtedly took part in one of the most important battles of World War Two.

“Over the past four years it has travelled thousands of miles across our communities, serving as a reminder of the sacrifice, bravery and tenacity that later generations owe so much to.

“We were delighted to arrange for Harry’s daughter, Margot, to be able to see it today, and hope that it adds some poignancy to what is such an important day, as we remember the heroics of those who took part in the D-Day landings 80 years ago.”

Harry was one of the first soldiers to land on Gold beach on June 6, 1944. He was a sapper attached to the 44 Royal Engineer Commandos and was one of only four to survive from his unit. He went on to fight in Caen and the Falaise Pocket in Normandy.

Harry was awarded an MBE in 2020 for his fundraising efforts, collecting more than £50,000 towards the creation of the British Normandy Memorial.