Twinning visit to St Aubin-sur-Mer 4-8 June 2024

The Photos from Celebrations of the Allied Landings 1944 

The Jeep and soldiers

The flags and crowds

Lydie at the celebrations

The mayors of Manitoba and St Aubin

Lydie at lunch at a seafront restaurant

Replicas of invading British Soldiers 

Celebrating band

Preparing for the banquet

With Lydie, her daughter and granddaughters

The Emsworth Reps

At Bernières-sur-Mer on the last day

Leaving St Aubin

June 4

On the ferry I had my evening meal with Jean Morrin, Keith Richardson, Mo and David Griffiths and Pam Kilbey. We were late arriving at Ouistreham as expected. Lydie was there alongside Alain and Michelle and others. We drove to St Aubin with Sylvie and Daniel as passengers. At the house I had the same bedroom  but with a bigger bed. I chatted with Lydie before bedtime

June 5

The next morning after breakfast Lydie and I walked along the beach towards a point where some marchers from Utah Beach were expected. We never saw them but did see the local mayor and the premier of Manitoba, Canada. Returning back to Lydie’s we stopped for lunch at a beach restaurant. I got some Euros and we got back to Lydie’s. Soon after that Lydie drove us to Douvres-la-Delivrand for a ceremony which ended with songs including national anthems at a war cemetery. Sword Beach I think is here. Back to Lydie’s and I read a Le Monde report about the Indian election, felt sleepy, tried sleeping. In the evening Sylvie and Daniel from St Aubin and Iké from Germany came to Lydie’s for supper.

June 6

On Thursday, D-day anniversary we walked to the monument along St Aubin beach to watch and hear the D-Day celebrations. I temporarily lost touch with Lydie then proceeded to the D-Day lunch. After lunch I agreed to wander for a bit and then meet Lydie to join a march to Courseulles-sur-Mer I think. The March left “early” without us. We used Lydie’s car to catch up. The Canadians were marking D-Day there. It was very hot in the sun. I moved to a shaded area. It was very emotional for some people. Then back to Lydie’s

That evening we had the big meal at Salle Aubert with our hosts and other guests from Canada and Germany. I sat between Daniel and Sylvie. Lydie was next to Sylvie. I was the only Brit at our table. Before the start there had been speeches from Alain, Judi, the Germans and possibly the Canadians. Lydie, Sylvie and others had worked hard preparing for the meal.

June 7

On Friday we went to the British war ceremony –  Ver-sur-mer (I think)  in Daniel’s car. There were cut-outs of British soldiers marching on the beach. I can’t remember for sure but national anthems may have been played. In the evening we went to Daniel and Sylvie’s place, walked along the nearby beach and had a meal at theirs. Ike joined us. I told Daniel the red wine was excellent. He offered me a bottle but I said a polite “no thanks”. However at the end of the trip Lydie gifted  me a bottle which I think was the same.

June 8

We were due to leave this day but I wanted to walk along St Aubin beach and Lydie decided to join me. We carried on beyond the end and finished up at Bernieres-sur-mer where there was some kind of boat race on. We then realised we were meant to be in St Aubin earlier than we had thought. Fortunately Michelle Tranqard drove over and took us back to St Aubin for our last lunch at Salle Aubert before our departure for Portsmouth. On the ferry home I had a meal in the restaurant  with a group including Jean Morrin I think It had been an enjoyable visit.