St Edmundsbury Cathedral's 'spectacular and moving' D-Day

The Suffolk Service of Commemoration, which began in Bury St Edmunds at 5.30pm on Thursday (June 6), was organised in partnership with the Royal British Legion.

The trumpets provided an impressive fanfare (Image: Owen Chad Cox)

Invited guests included veterans and current military personnel from across Suffolk as well as The Lord Lieutenant, Lady Clare Euston.

Many members of the public also turned up on the day and the Cathedral was packed.

"It was such a moving service," said Cathedral Canon, Philip Banks. "The readings were just beautiful with so much power and gravitas in the words from the representatives of the various armed forces.

"Particularly lovely was the reading of the poignant poem, 'Normandy' by Juno Veteran Cyril Crain.

"This was given by former Royal Marine, Tony Hensby, who was 14 years old on D-Day and remembered friends going off to France and the sky filled with airplanes overhead. He put so much feeling and emotion into his reading. It was very affecting."

The Cathedral was packed (Image: Owen Chad Cox)

Canon Philip added the the carrying of all the standards from all its branches across the county was 'wonderful to behold.'

"The music was also glorious and uplifting," he added. "It's hard to remember a more dignified and moving service."

A special 'Suffolk Remembers' coaster was given to all who attended the service on the day.

After the service, the Norman Tower bellringers joined the nationwide initiative,  ‘Ringing for Peace’.

Then, at 9.15pm, the beacon in the Abbey Gardens was lit as a further mark of remembrance, with music from the  Glenmoriston Pipe Band Piper and the Swing Sisters.