I’ve just had a good chat with Alan McQuillan.  It’s fair to say he’s still buzzing after his recent trip to Normandy and the 80th Anniversary D-Day commemorations; with his permission here’s my take on his trip.

Alan with the Royal British Legion Veteran Party leaving Portsmouth

It was clearly an emotional and tiring trip for Alan who celebrated his 101st birthday whilst in Normandy although he was “just about sorted” when I spoke to him.  The reception given to the Veterans was clearly amazing and Alan couldn’t get over how generous people had been.  Everywhere they went they were given presents and mementos and always in a different bag! From Brittany Ferries to local children, gifts were showered on the Vets: T-shirts and  jackets, all with the 80th anniversary badge, to chocolate and bottles of gin and calvados.  Although they stayed in a single hotel they were wined and dined at different venues each day.  The whole occasion was more than Alan had expected and he was touched to be sent an extensive photo album covering his visit including his meetings with the dignitaries.  

Alan giving some advice to the Prime Minister

A slightly bizarre event happened when Alan and the Vets were returning from the main ceremony to their hotel.  Richard Hammond pulled up in his Rolls-Royce and asked for a photo of them all by his car; they duly obliged.  At the main ceremony the Vets had quite a long wait but Alan found himself sitting next to a lady who had served at Bletchley Park during the Normandy landings.  He found her stories really interesting although she still refused to reveal some of her secrets!

Alan and HRH the King discussing the Servicing Commando’s

Perhaps the highlight of his visit was meeting The King, something that came as a complete surprise.  The ADC approached Alan and told him that The King would be coming along and would sit next to him. They shook hands and Alan told The King that they were actually nextdoor neighbours as Alan lives in Kemble, Gloucestershire.  This caught The King’s attention but not as much as when Alan told him that the RAFSC were formed on the orders of Lord Mountbatten.  The King was now really interested and seemed to recall Mountbatten talking of these special units and how he attracted enough weirdos to form them.  Interesting choice of words but probably accurate when you consider the sparse information against which they volunteered!  In addition to The King, Alan met Grant Shapps (Sec of State for Defence) who had been told to talk to Alan by a Daily Mail correspondent who had interviewed Alan earlier.  He also met President Macron and educated him about the first active airstrip post the landings which was only 3 miles away; this was, of course, B3.  On the Sunday Alan was taken back to B3 which has now been returned to farmland and met the local Mayor.  Together with 2 other Vets they were invited to join the Mayor for lunch in his garden.  Although there was plenty of wine on offer Alan assured me he was sensible and drank lots of water…there’s a lesson for us!  And finally, the Mayor presented him with a piece of shrapnel that had been found locally!

Alan with Sgt Alfred “Tony” Stanford prior to the invasion

A truly extraordinary trip for a group of extraordinary people.

Neil Cromarty