Bus named after city's surviving D-Day veteran

D-Day veteran Ken Cooke was surprised with the honour in York

York's last surviving D-Day veteran has been honoured with a bus named after him in his home city.

On 6 June 1944, Ken Cooke was an 18-year-old Army conscript who went from working in a sweet factory to taking part in the Normandy landings.

Mr Cooke, 99, said he was "completely surprised" when he boarded the new vehicle on Wednesday to find it full of his family and a plaque with his name on it.

"I never suspected anything until I stepped on that bus there and they all started to cheer," he said.

Mr Cooke thought he was visiting the James Street bus depot to have a tour, but relatives and friends from the York Normandy Veterans association greeted him aboard the vehicle.

The veteran said he "never got used to" the various honours he had been surprised with, including a locomotive named after him in 2024.

"Film stars and people like that get their names on things, I never expected my name to be on a bus or on a train," he said.

The new vehicle explains Mr Cooke's story to passengers

Reflecting on his experiences, Mr Cooke said he felt "very very lucky to be here".

"With the things that went on during the war, it could have gone horribly wrong," he said.

Joel Bradley, general manager of First Bus York, said he jumped at the opportunity to name one of their fleet after Mr Cooke after hearing he was "an avid bus spotter".

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"He seems over the moon," he said.

"It's really moving, he's an absolute legend."

Mr Cooke said he was preparing to travel to France after being invited to an event commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Normandy landings.

He is also set to celebrate his 100th birthday in August - a milestone he said he hasn't given much thought to.

"I take every day as it comes," he said.

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