Pupils' admiration for D-Day veteran

Pupils at a school founded by a D-Day veteran have spoken about their admiration for him.

Frank Doran from Worcester, who is 100, enlisted into the army when he was 18 and two years later fought in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Afterwards he became the founder and first head teacher of Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College.

He spoke to current pupils on the 80th anniversary of the landings, to tell his story.

Asha, Rafi and Toby said they were amazed to find out Frank Doran had survived D-Day and had the energy to then set up and run a school

One of the pupils, Toby, said: "I think it's just amazing really because even though he could have been shot at any point he just stuck on with it."

"I'd be amazed that he's got through all this and then started a school and he's still going strong," he added.

Frank Doran was a signal man in the 15th Air Formation Signals on D-Day

Mr Doran set up the school in 1963 and worked there for 22 years.

Asha, who is 15, said: "I feel really proud because it gives this school more of a history behind it."

After hearing his stories, she said: "I just can't imagine being put in those shoes, going through all of that, going to a different country fighting for his country."

"I just think it's really inspiring to be so brave and humble about it."

She also said some of the things he saw must have been "really awful".

Rafi, another pupil, said: "I just think that it's crazy that the founder of the school actually went through all of that.

"It kind of shows that everyone and anyone was pulled in and it doesn't matter who you are, if you were called in to fight that's what you did."

She added: "I can't even imagine how brave everyone had to be."