Today, we unite to celebrate Victory in Europe, ‘VE Day 75’. Across the nation we will join in honouring those who gave their lives during the war and to listen to the reflections of those who paved the way for the society we live in today.
Although we cannot be together today on the Campus, we will celebrate (albeit virtually) this pivotal moment in history by sharing this reading of Robert Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the Fallen’ (1914). Read by veterans and serving reservists connected with the Campus and local area.
Thank you to the wonderful people who lent their time and voices to this beautiful reading.
(order in which they appear)
Lieutenant Colonel Cliff Dare, MBE, FRICS, Royal Marines Reserve
Senior Aircraft Woman Mo Merchant, Women’s Royal Air Force (Retired)
Group Captain David Drew, Royal Air Force (Retired)
Stoker Mechanic Griff Bowen, HMS Brecon and HMS Glory, Royal Navy (Retired)
Major Sean Stewart, Royal Engineer and Royal Logistic Corps (Retired)
Wing Commander Bob Girling, Royal Air Force (Retired)
Peter Davies, Vice Chairman, Royal British Legion, Harwell Branch
Colonel Mark Burrows –late RE, Royal Engineers (Retired)
Harwell Campus was borne out of a military past, it was a Royal Air Force Station – RAF Harwell – during the Second World War and it played a major role in the preparations and plans for the invasion of occupied France. If you would like to read more about Harwell’s history, please go to our DDay article.