Veterans remember D-Day ‎

Photo: Laura Wild

Veterans walk from Rochdale Town Hall to the Rochdale Cenotaph

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War veterans gathered at the Rochdale Cenotaph today (Sunday 6 June 2010) to mark the 66th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Canon Alan Shackleton led the service attended by D-Day veterans from the area, the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Zulfiqar Ali and Superintendent Chris Hankinson.

Cyril Watts, 85 organised the commemoration, he said: “I was there on D-Day, well to be honest I was there a fortnight before, I swept the beaches.

The former chairman of the Rochdale British Legion branch added: “I feel that we should carry on remembering this day.”

Following the service Mayor Ali said: “D-Day is very important to us all and we need to organise this every year.

“The council needs to get more involved as well, this is part of our history and people must remember the people who gave their lives.”

Mr Ali added: “My thanks go to Cyril and his colleagues for organising this event and giving people the chance to pay their tributes to the fallen.

“I hope we can do this every year and make it bigger and better and get schools and children involved.”