RESIDENTS, veterans and serving personnel gathered at the War Memorial to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

At 10am on Thursday, June 6, people came together for a special flag-raising ceremony to mark the day.

A moving service was carried out by Reverend Steve McKay and LLM Charles Lewis.

Before former Mayor of Basingstoke, Paul Miller, gave a speech. Cllr Miller is a retired Royal Air Force officer, who served in the armed forces for 25 years. 

The current Mayor of Basingstoke, Cllr Dan Putty, raised the special D-Day 80 flag, before speaking to those who were present at the ceremony, before the Last Post was played and standards were lowered. 

In Sherfield on Loddon, on the green by Sherfield cricket pavilion, from 6pm residents are invited to enjoy burgers and hot dogs, cakes, tea and coffee for the village’s D-Day event. 

Music during the event will be provided by Martin Turvey and there’s also a D-Day quiz, children’s entertainment including Bubbles Man and Vicky Crockford’s Petting Animals.

Later on, there will be the Song Circle Choir who will perform some wartime favourites and at 9.15pm lighting of the beacon and international tributes. 

In Bramley, the parish council is marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day by lighting a beacon on Thursday at 9.15pm on Clift Meadow.

On Thursday, it will host a commemoration/celebration event leading up to the beacon lighting. Tin Pan Allies, five musicians playing music whilst roaming around the meadow and attendees, will kick off the event, followed by the D-Day Proclamation by the town crier.

If you are doing anything for the 80th anniversary of D-Day let us know how it went and send pictures to newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk.