Poignant 80th D-Day tribute from Bedworth – ‘the town that never forgets’

Bedworth is famously ‘the town that never forgets’ and has maintained its proud tradition of marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. It is the only place outside London to continuously mark the day the First World War ended , at 11 o’clock in the morning, on the 11th day of the 11th month.

It houses a truce shrine that includes a unique Peace Podium on Sergeant Simon Valentine Way. Locals may have seen scaffolding on the catwalk while passing by recently.

This was to allow the stonework to be pointed out and the Dove Banner to be taken down for restoration. On Tuesday, June 4, the restored banner was returned and placed back on the podium in time for today’s D-Day anniversary.

The podium bears the poignant words – “We Will Remember Them”. “All the work carried out – straightening, scaffolding, restoration and labor – was all voluntary and free in the common cause and shows that in ‘Bedworth, the town never forgets,'” said a spokesman for the Bedworth Armistice Group. .

“It’s also ‘The City Working Together.’ The Bedworth Armistice Day Group would like to recognize and thank some of the people who have once again helped to show what can be achieved in community spirit.”

They include Brendon Storer of BSL Ltd, Andy and Jane Tonks, Karl Malpass and Nigel Springthorpe of Brical Finishers Ltd, Rob Erskin of Bedworth Plumbing and Heating, Ken Whitehead, Murray Richards and Roger and Jean Adams of Bedworth Armistice Day. The work on the peace podium comes after one of the city’s most decorated veterans, Arnold Salter, made a pilgrimage to Normandy for the anniversary.

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