Suffolk's heroes remembered on D-Day anniversary

The 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings were commemorated at Ipswich War Memorial in Christchurch Park

War veterans and residents across Suffolk have come together to commemorate "the biggest thing that has ever happened on this planet".

The 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy has been marked across the county in memory of thousands of soldiers who died during the invasion.

In Ipswich, large crowds gathered at the war memorial in Christchurch Park to honour both the town and the UK's fallen heroes.

Resident Steve Camfield, 72, said: "I do get emotional when I talk about it because I wouldn't be here if it was not for the sacrifice of so many.

"Four thousand-odd people died on this day 80 years ago and it is very important we pay our respects and say 'thank you'.

"A lot of the generations we are seeing today will not be around in 10 years, so to keep their memory alive we should carry on things like this."

Resident Steve Camfield , 72, commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings

The service started with a speech from John Downie of the Ipswich Royal British Legion before councillor Alasdair Ross read the names of Suffolk's late heroes.

Following a poignant performance of the Last Post, Ipswich dignitaries laid wreaths at the cenotaph.

Frederick Claydon, 67, of the Royal Anglian Regimental Association's Ipswich and District branch, served in the regiment as a private for 22 years.

"It is the biggest thing that has ever happened on this planet," he said of the D-Day landings, before acting as a flag-bearer during the ceremony.

"It has got to be remembered and cannot be forgotten.

"The old people will come [to these events] as long as they can, but the younger generation needs to carry it on.

"Luckily all my elderly relatives survived the war so we were quite lucky, but we do think about the thousands we have lost."

Frederick Claydon, 67, of the Royal Anglian Regimental Association's Ipswich and District branch, served as a private for two decades

Mandy Harvey, 61, headed to the memorial event with children from Ipswich's Giggles and Fun Childcare group, which she owns.

She said: "It is part of their upbringing and they should know what happened and that we are living in the world we are thanks to those very brave soldiers.

"It is very important they know about those who went out and fought for us. It would be a real shame [if events like this ended] because people should remember."

Nursery owner Mandy Harvey, 61, said it was important younger generations learned about the sacrifices of our war heroes

Elango K. Elavalakan, mayor of Ipswich, was moved by the ceremony

Elango K. Elavalakan, mayor of Ipswich, reflected after the ceremony.

"It is a very important one for us because they died [so we could have] freedom and a good life and peaceful life," he said.