Bury St Edmunds memorial bench commemorating the Battle of Normandy unveiled in special service at Abbey Gardens

A memorial bench honouring the sacrifice of soldiers at Normandy 80 years ago has been unveiled following a fund-raiser.

The bench is in the Rose Garden of Bury St Edmunds’ Abbey Gardens, where the town’s branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) held a service on Saturday to commemorate D-Day.

It replaced a bench, which was constructed for the 60th anniversary of the Normandy landings and was in the park for two decades, but had to be removed last May after it fell into disrepair.

When asked what the bench means for the town, Nigel Wolstenholme, chairman of the RBL Bury branch, said: “I believe it’s a place where people can sit, reflect and remember how lucky and fortunate we are that people all those years ago lost their lives and gave so much to have the freedom we have today.

“I’m very proud and pleased that the RBL have been able to do this for the Normandy veterans, the families and all those who have been affected.”

The wooden bench was made in time for the D-Day anniversary, which was marked with special ceremonies nationwide last week.

After the RBL launched a fund-raising campaign to replace the bench last August, the town council supported the charity and agreed to cover all the costs.

Guests including the town mayor Cllr Diane Hind joined the service.