Mayor and London Assembly mark D Day 80th anniversary at City Hall’s annual Remembrance Service

Created on

08 November 2024

Mayor and London Assembly mark D Day 80th anniversary at City Hall's annual Remembrance Service

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Chair of the London Assembly, Andrew Boff AM, and Chair of the City Hall Branch of the Royal British Legion, and Armed Forces Champion Len Duvall OBE AM, today joined Assembly Members, representatives of our Armed Forces Community, faith leaders and other special guests for City Hall's Remembrance Service.

The annual service commemorates those who lost their lives in world wars and other conflicts, and this year marked the 80^th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

The Rt Revd Lynne Cullens, Bishop of Barking, officiated the service and delivered the opening address. Sikh, Hindu, Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders also spoke to the congregation and gave a series of readings, prayers and hymns. Music was provided by the London International Gospel choir.

To commemorate D Day's 80^th anniversary, an exhibition of photographic portraits of 16 veterans who served in Normandy is on display in London's Living Room. The exhibition from Blind Veterans UK, previously seen in the National Army Museum, is in collaboration with award-winning photographer Richard Cannon. WWII artefacts from the London Docklands Museum will also be featured.

Senior representatives from the Metropolitan Police Service, Greater London Lieutenancy, Transport for London, London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service, British Red Cross, London Assembly, Royal British Legion, Armed Forces, St Johns Ambulance and others participated in the wreath laying ceremony.

The service was also attended by London borough Mayors and leaders, senior representatives of all the participating organisations, ambassadors, armed services and cadets, as well as London Assembly Members and Greater London Authority staff.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: "City Hall's annual Remembrance Day service gives us an important opportunity to reflect on the courage, dedication and bravery of our Armed Forces. As we mark the momentous 80^th anniversary of D Day we commemorate and honour all the servicemen and women from the UK and Commonwealth who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. London would not be the great city it is today were it not for their selfless efforts. We will forever be in their debt."

Chair of the London Assembly, Andrew Boff AM, said: "I am extremely grateful to have been able to stand alongside members of the Armed Forces community, faith leaders, colleagues, and many others to pay our respects to those who sacrificed their lives to protect our safety, our values, and our freedoms.

"Now 80 years on from the D-Day landings, today's Remembrance Service reminds us of the many otherwise ordinary people who fought with extraordinary courage in the World Wars, and of the continued bravery of all those serving in our Armed Forces today.

"Our thoughts today are with our serving Armed Forces personnel and their families, and with all those who have lost homes, friends, family members and communities to war."