6th June 2024 | Lieutenancy News
D-Day 80th Anniversary in Epsom
Surrey Lieutenancy was represented today at the Epsom and Ewell Borough Council D-Day Service to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944 in Epsom Town Centre.
The service was conducted by the Mayor’s chaplain Revd Rosemary Donovan and in attendance were His Worshipful the Mayor of Epsom and Ewell Councillor Steve Bridger and his wife the Mayoress, local borough councillors and aldermen, council Chief Executive Jackie King and members of the Royal British Legion and Veterans.
Mary Zoeller DL was asked to read an extract from the work “despatches from the heart”, a compilation of letters home. The letter I read was written by Captain Gerald Ritchie who commanded A Company, 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion containing a vivid account of his experiences during the parachute landings in Normandy on D-Day.
Poems were ready out by students from Ewell Castle School and after the Last Post was played the Mayor laid a wreath containing flowers representing the last (in England) and first (in France) things of beauty seen by these brave soldiers. The event concluded with the National Anthem.

Related News Stories
Surrey Day 2026
Eighth annual Surrey Day hailed as “best yet” The eighth annual Surrey Day took place on Saturday 9th May, celebrating […]
View More
Surrey businesses awarded The King’s Awards for Enterprise 2026
The recipients of The King’s Awards for Enterprise have been announced today [6 May], celebrating the achievements of leading businesses […]
View More
Surrey Day 2026
The eighth annual Surrey Day takes place on Saturday 9 May 2026 – and we can’t wait to come together to celebrate the delights of […]
View More