Former and current army personnel and their families are being urged to come forward for a remembrance event in Fleet Hargate.
Harold Payne says this year’s remembrance event, which is set to include a poppy drop as well as live entertainment at his Anglia Motel, will be his last.
He’s calling on veterans, current serving personnel and their families to come in to the cafe and get tickets for free.
“It’s going to be a fantastic event,” he said. “It’s to remember all lives lost in the wars, but particularly for those boys who lost their lives fighting alongside ours be they from America, Canada, New Zealand or Poland in World War Two.
“The idea came to me while at Omaha in Normandy beach where 20,000 American soldiers lost their lives.
“They didn’t stand a chance.
“I’ve brought some medals marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day and I’d like to give them out to the veterans and give them free tickets to a show that’s costing around £5,000 to put on.”
The event on Sunday, November 12, will start with a friend of Harold’s from Fenland Airfield flying over the motel on the A17 with a poppy drop from the plane.
The FH70 gun at the motel will also fire poppies out of it.
It will be followed by 1940s American GI themed entertainment and the Rutland Brass Band.
Tickets for the event for the general public are £15 from the motel beforehand or £20 on the day.
