Students in Coventry commemorate D-Day

Cardinal Newman Catholic School students remember D-Day on 80th anniversary of Normandy landings

Pupils at a Coventry school are proving youngsters won’t forget the events of D-Day as they mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

Dennis Davison, a D-Day veteran, made regular visits to Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Coventry before he died in 2019 aged 96 while trying to spread a message of peace.

Asked about the idea that young people have lost interest in events like D-Day, Year 12 pupil Patrick said: “I don’t completely agree, in fact I would argue the opposite – it’s so important to understand the sacrifices made in the past, so we are not repeating the mistakes of the past – that is what Dennis would have wanted.

“He always promoted peace and developed an understanding of the need for peace, and I think it’s important now, especially in light of the recent events in Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine conflict, that we continue to promote peace as the next generation.”

Dennis set up a charity called Normandy UK, which connects veterans and young people to pass on messages from their experiences, and established the Peace Orchard in Coventry’s Coundon Park as a place to reflect on past conflict and the need for peace.

Year 7 student Isla said: “Peace is important in our everyday lives, we should always promote peace in everything we do, we should never be hurtful or violent.

“It’s a really interesting part of history and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do now and have the freedoms we have now without those D-Day landings and those heroic soldiers.”

Year 12 pupil Sasha added: “We need to remember those who fought for us and remember their sacrifice for our country and share that message of peace so we never take it for granted.”

Pupils at the school take part in a ‘picnic for peace’ at the Peace Orchard, attended by the Lord Mayor of Coventry, to remember the sacrifice made on D-Day and remember Dennis Davison’s message for peace.

Events will be taking place across Warwickshire to commemorate D-Day, including a D-Day Proclamation read by Warwick’s Town Crier, Michael Reddy at 8am at the Shire Hall and the lighting of the beacon at 9.15pm at Newbold Comyn.

Full details can be found here.

District schools will read the poem “D-Day Heroes” at 11 a.m., which tells the story of the planning and execution of the landings and honors those who took part.

Leamington Branch of the Royal British Legion will hold a short service at the Euston Place War Memorial at 11am.

At 9.15pm the district will join the nation in lighting the lighthouse at Newbold Comyn as the International Tribute is read by the Chairman of Warwick District Council.

The reading of the Proclamation at 8am and the lighting of the lighthouse at Newbold Comyn at 9.15pm will both be streamed live on Warwick District Council’s Facebook page.

From 7.30pm to 9.30pm, Kenilworth Town Council will host a commemorative event at Kenilworth Castle, featuring the ringing of local church bells, a performance by local school choirs, a piper and the lighting of a beacon in one of the castle’s towers .

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