Piper to play 80th anniversary D-Day tribute

Richard Cowie will play in locations around Kendal

A piper is to play a Scottish folk tune heard during the D-Day landings every day in the build up to its 80th anniversary.

Richard Cowie will play in locations around Kendal to remember Bill Millin who played on Sword Beach on D-Day, despite a ban on pipers playing at the front.

Mr Cowie will join other pipers in the UK and Isle of Man who have been playing their bagpipes at 08:00 at specific locations, as part of a countdown to the anniversary on 6 June.

Cumbria Freemasons, who have organised the occasion, said it was a "truly remarkable opportunity".

Mr Millin was serving with 1st Commando Brigade when he landed in France on 6 June 1944.

His commanding officer, Lord Lovat, asked him to ignore instructions banning the playing of bagpipes in battle and requested he play to rally his comrades.

Bill Millin, who played men into battle during World War II, died in 2010

Despite being unarmed, Mr Millin marched up and down the shore at Sword Beach in his kilt piping "Highland Laddie".

He continued to play as his friends fell around him and later moved inland to pipe the troops to Pegasus Bridge.

Mr Millin died aged 88 in Devon in 2010.

Cumbria Freemasons described it as a "profound honour" to mark his memory.

On 6 June there will be a wider event at Kendal Rugby Club which will feature a commemorative parade, alongside military vehicles and the Burneside Brass band.