Weymouth remembers D-Day on 80th anniversary at Nothe

A ceremony was held at the cenotaph in Weymouth in the afternoon and military vehicles set off from the resort to Portland, before heading back and arriving at Nothe Gardens at around 4.30pm.

At the gardens, a large screen was put up for people to watch coverage of national events taking place.

(Image: Graham Hunt Photography) (Image: Graham Hunt Photography)

Bennett’s Fish and Chip van also handed out free samples of fish and chips as part of a celebration of National Fish and Chip Day.

(Image: Graham Hunt Photography) The Nothe Fort put on a special D-Day exhibition and also hosted a Beacon Lighting event in the evening to remember the heroes who lost their lives on the beaches of northern France.

The exhibition included audio stories of veterans of D-Day and families of veterans.

(Image: Graham Hunt Photography) Events at the Nothe were organised as the area's main D-Day commemoration in association with Weymouth Town Council.

Lucy Watkins, co-general manager of Nothe Fort said: “It has been really exciting.

Lucy Watkins curated the D-Day exhibition at Nothe Fort (Image: Tom Lawrence)

“This site connects the people of Weymouth from the past to the people of Weymouth now.

“We are enabling people to grasp what Weymouth was like at the time of D-Day, when thousand and thousands of allied troops, mainly American GIs poured into the town and changed it forever.

Lucy Watkins listens to a D-Day story as part of the exhibition at the Nothe Fort (Image: Tom Lawrence)

“It is really important to remember D-Day.”

Ian Kellaway travelled from Coventry to Weymouth for the commemoration with his sister Rachel Mayne from Bournemouth.

Ian Kellaway said he was so impressed with the events put on by Weymouth Town Council (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Their father travelled across the channel on June 7 1944, which they call “D-Day 2 or E Day”

He said: “I am so impressed with Weymouth Town Council.”

“They have got it right they have got what people want, we are very appreciative.

“Our dad went over on E Day, it is a tradition in our family, we are late for everything.”

John and Helen Christopher from Weymouth visited with their daughter Emma Williams.

Emma Williams with her parents John and Helen Christopher (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Helen said: “It is absolutely vital that we celebrate D-Day, it is poignant this year, there are still so many wars all over the world.

Emma added: “The freedom we have today, we wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for those soldiers.”