A Charnwood resident with a military background has been selected to light the beacon in Queen’s Park to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Loughborough resident, Jane Bryson, served in the Territorial Army for 20 years in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps before retiring as a Major in 1996. Jane’s father, William John Robinson served his country in the Second World War as a Yeoman Signaller and was on board HMS Scorpion which was based off the Allied beaches on D-Day.

Following a competition organised by Charnwood Borough Council, Jane has been selected to light the beacon in Queen’s Park in Loughborough on Thursday June 6 – exactly 80 years since the Allied invasion. Jane said:

“It is a huge honour to be selected to light the beacon for this important event which marks 80 years since D-Day."

“My father and I have a military background and I think it is so important that we honour this anniversary and pay our respects to the people that bravely served and lost their lives. Unfortunately, my father passed away in March 2020 just three months short of his 100th birthday but I know that this will be a proud moment for both myself and my family.”

The Mayor of Charnwood, Councillor Dr Julie Bradshaw MBE selected Jane from the entries that were received in the competition. The Mayor, said:

“I am looking forward to joining Jane when the beacon is lit in Queen’s Park to mark this anniversary."

“Charnwood has a long military history and it is set to be a poignant night when beacons are lit up and down the country. I would like to say thank you to everyone that entered the competition and it was fantastic to read the entries that were received. I hope to see as many residents as possible in Queen’s Park on the evening of June 6 as we mark 80 years since D-Day.”

A number of information stalls including Culture Leicestershire, Sea Cadets and Loughborough Library Local Studies Group will be in Queen’s Park from 7.30pm with refreshments also available at Queen’s Park Café which will remain open during the event.

The beacon will be lit around 9.15pm and will be one of thousands across the country lit to mark 80 years since the Allied invasion during the Second World War.