Thousands of people lined the northern and eastern shores of the Isle of Wight yesterday (Wednesday) to witness flypasts, aerobatic displays and a naval escort as part of the D-Day 75 commemorations in Portsmouth.
Parking was at a premium in Ryde and Seaview as crowds descended on the edges of the Solent overlooking the mainland to watch the RAF flypast of 23 aircraft. Whilst the flypast wasn’t quite what people were expecting, Islanders were given their own flypast by 2 Merlin helicopters and a Wildcat helicopter, as all 3 flew low along the shoreline from East to West.
Later in the day, the Red Arrows RAF aerobatic display team returned to the skies above Portsmouth to put on a fast-paced display. Once again the crowds gathered and there was a particularly good view from Culver Down. Those high up on the download were ‘buzzed’ as the Red Arrows transited back to Bournemouth.
As the sun began to set and the day’s commemorations wound down, it was Ventnor that became the spotlight for many. MV Boudicca, with 300 D-Day Veterans on board, was escorted around the coast of the Isle of Wight by HMS St Albans.
At around 21:00 the 2 ships stopped off the Ventnor coast before HMS St Albans signalled Ventnor by Aldis Lamp with flashing morse. The message read: “We acknowledge the Townspeople of Ventnor assembled for D-Day 75 commemorations and their Wartime contribution”. Following the commemorative prayers ashore conducted by Churches Together in Ventnor, concluding with the sounding of Evening Colours, HMS St Albans flashed a parting message on behalf of the Flotilla: “Farewell and God speed – we’ll meet again”.
The ships then sheered away over the horizon and made for the Normandy beaches overnight, bringing the 75th anniversary national commemorations in the Solent area to an end.
This was a complete non-event, with people turning up first at 7.15 (original adverted time), then again at 8pm (when it was supposed to happen) only to be told it would be until 9.15. Only the great and the good on the band could hear the commentary which obviously wasn’t meant for great unwashed in the crowd. The ship was largely too far off to see, and apart from one wizz bang at the end of the harbour, zip, nada. And everyone slunked off, very disappointed. What a waste of an opportunity, very poor organisation.