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The main event organised by the DDNF is the Annual Reunion Weekend, held in Portsmouth on the Saturday and Sunday nearest to the anniversary of D-Day.
Annual Dinner The DDNF annual dinner for 2009 was held at the Royal Maritime Club in Portsmouth on Saturday, 6 June, the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The fact that the dinner took place this year on the actual anniversary added to the sense of occasion, but did result in reduced attendance as a number of members had travelled to Normandy to take part in the commemorative events there. However, the thirty members and guests present, ranging in age from their thirties to their nineties, enjoyed an excellent buffet meal and a most convivial evening. After the meal there were short speeches by the President and the Chairman. The Chairman said that he was very pleased that, 65 years on, interest in D-Day and the Normandy campaign seemed to be growing rather than fading away. This was demonstrated, he said, by the continuing success of the D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery, which DDNF members had played an important part in setting up in 1984. Their efforts were still very much appreciated by Portsmouth City Council and when HM The Queen and the HRH The Duke of Edinburgh recently visited the Museum to celebrate its 25th anniversary, members of the Fellowship’s Committee had been invited to attend the event. As is now traditional, the evening closed with the younger members present drinking a toast to ‘The Veterans’. Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance The Portsmouth Cathedral Service for 2009 took place on Sunday, 7 June. The Deputy Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Paula Riches, and other dignitaries were present. There was the usual excellent contribution from the Cathedral Choir, arranged by Dr David Price, the Cathedral Organist and Master of the Choristers, who is a member of the Fellowship’s Committee. After the entry of the choir and clergy, one of the Fellowship’s Books of Remembrance, which are kept at the Cathedral and contain the names of all past and present members, was placed on the table before the altar. The Address was given by the Venerable Stephen Robbins, Chaplain General and Archdeacon to the Army. Unfortunately there is no text available for the website this year, but if you would like to read the Addresses by Canon Nicholas Ash in 2007 and the Reverend Mike Williams in 2008, please click here Members and others attending gathered for refreshments in the Nave of the Cathedral after the Service. |
Annual Dinner 2009 
Refreshments in the nave |