Events in and around Bournemouth for D-Day 80th anniversary

Here are some of the commemorative events taking place across the area. 

Bournemouth

Thursday, June 6

11am – Wreath laying at the War Memorial

9pm – Tribute from the new Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr George Farquhar, at the Beacon Lighting

9.15pm – Beacon Lighting at the Jon Egging Memorial

Saturday 8 June

3 pm to 8pm – Vintage entertainment in the bandstand in the Lower Gardens

5.30pm to 6pm – Procession from Westcliff Gardens to the bandstand

6.15pm to 6.25pm – Speech from Cllr George Farquhar, Mayor of Bournemouth and Chaplain

Poole

Poole will host six events across the day of June 6 which will begin at 10.15am with a Royal British Legion Event and will end at 9.15pm with a beacon lighting opposite the Poole Arms. 

Road closures will be in place on the Quay from 10am to 11.30am.

Thursday, June 6

10.15am to 11.15am – Royal British Legion event with the new Mayor of Poole, Cllr Pete Miles in attendance. Events including laying a wreath at the Dolphin Quay Plaque

5.30pm to 8.30pm – Vintage entertainment & poetry reading from local schoolchildren on a stage opposite the Poole Arms. Vintage military vehicles (TBC)

5pm to 7pm - St James' Church provides a place for reflection and shows a video detailing Poole's involvement with D-Day

8.30pm to 9.15pm – A flotilla of local professional vessels led by Poole Harbour Commissioners – please watch this from Poole Quay and not other vessels on the water

9pm – Sea Cadets March from Baiter Park to the Beacon lighting arriving at 9pm

9.15pm– Beacon lighting near the stage opposite the Poole Arms

Christchurch

Christchurch, like Poole, will only host events on June 6 which will begin from 6pm with a event hosted by Christchurch Town Council which will feature live music, funfair rides, and a history hub. 

Thursday, June 6

6pm to 10pm – Event by Christchurch Town Council featuring live music, local food, fun fair rides, face painting and a ‘history hub’ curated by local historians.

6pm – Town Crier’s proclamation from the King

6.30pm – Church bells ‘Ringing out for Peace’

9.15pm – Scouts light the Jubilee Beacon

Ringwood

Ringwood will begin its commemorations to the event at 9am raising a special flag in Gateway Square where it will remain for seven days. 

It will then host two wreath-laying ceremonies and will end with a beacon of light at 9.15pm. 

Thursday, June 6 

9am - Special commemorative flag raising in Gateway Square 

10:30am - Wreath laying ceremony at Normandy Veterans Memorial, Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul.

12pm - War Memorial Gardens service and wreath laying ceremony.

6:30pm - Bells of Church of St Peter and St Paul 'ring out for peace'.

9:15pm - Beacon of light at Ringwood War Memorial Gardens

Wimborne

Wimborne Town Council has planned a packed schedule which starts at 11am with a poem read by schools as part of a national poem event. 

It will then host numerous musicians and performers on Willow Walk and Wimborne Community Theatre will tour a D-Day performance around known areas in the town. 

Thursday,  June 6 

11am - Poem for Schools 

12pm - Wimborne Community Theatre D-Day story perform at town hall

2pm - D-Day presentation by local historian Jogn Smith at Allendale House

5:30pm - Wimborne Minster service and blessing

6:30pm - Wimborne Minster bell ringing out for peace.

9pm - War graces illuminated at the Cemetery 

9.10pm - Canon firing by militia 

9.15pm - Lighting of the beacon and poem reading by town crier

Other events

Sherborne and Gillingham Beacon lighting events will also take place in Sherborne at 9.15pm on the Terrace Playing fields.

A D-Day event will also take place in Gillingham at Hardings Park from 7pm until 9pm, with a beacon lighting after 9pm.

Blandford Forum will host a proclamation ceremony at 12pm in Blandford Forum Parish Church's churchyard which will be attended by 13 countries laying flags.

A parade will happen in Swanage by 11th Signals Regiment on Kings Road, Rempsone Road, and Victoria Avenue which will begin at 9.40am.