Annual memorial service this weekend

An annual memorial service in Donington is taking place this weekend.

The Donington Arnhem Service is on Sunday and includes a parade which sets off from the Market Place at 10.30am.
It will be led by the Standard Bearer to St Mary and The Holy Rood Church for the 11am service.
Afterwards the congregation move outside for the laying of wreaths at the Memorial beneath the Arnhem Oak Tree in the Churchyard.
It’s for the fallen of the 1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers who were billeted in Donington for nine months intensive training from December 1943 before departing from RAF Barkston Heath for Arnhem and Operation Market Garden made famous by the film A Bridge Too Far.
One of the organisers, Eddie Finch, said: “ Thousands of soldiers of the Parachute Regiment were billeted in the South Holland area and after spending the rest of war as prisoners some returned to the area to marry and live in surrounding villages.
“Some of the readers may recognise Eric Booth, Arthur Hendy, John Clark, David Urquhart and Gordon Christie just a few of the men to return to the local area .
“Everyone is very welcome to attend and in the Church Hall there will be a display of lots more old photos, military equipment, information on the men and refreshments are served.”