BASILDON war hero Don Sheppard has underlined the importance of this weekend as we fall silent to remember those killed in conflict. 

Don, a 102-year-old who works tirelessly to make sure the stories of veterans are never forgotten, is preparing to mark Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. 

The D-Day soldier, who still has a piece of shrapnel in his lung from the Normandy landings, will be at the parade and memorial service in Howard Park, Pitsea, which takes place on Sunday morning at the war memorial.

Don, who lives in Methersgate with his wife Sandra, said: “The Pitsea war memorial has been there for nearly 100 years. I will be there, laying a wreath.”

He is also visiting three schools this week to share stories of the war and how he was called up at the age of 20 to do army training at Colchester Garrison.

He went on to serve in Sicily and north Africa. By the time D-Day came, Don had combat experience, unlike some of the other men who had never seen any enemy action before.

Don’s school visit will include a return to Buttsbury Junior School in Billericay where, on his 102nd birthday on May 4, he planted a tree while the entire school sang Happy Birthday to him.

Don was also interviewed for Paul Maleary’s Ex-Job Podcast this week, where he told his life story.

“It keeps me going, rather than just sit about,” he said of his busy schedule.

“It is good to share the stories with the children. We still have wars around us - they know about Ukraine. The children like to look at the medals too.

“It is important that children know these stories and learn about the history, and I’ve been able to help. 

“All my grandchildren have been out to Normandy with me to see where we landed.”

Don said it is important people get to their local service to honour our fallen war heroes.

He said: “I used to go to the Southend one, as I used to be the chairman of the Southend and District Normandy Veterans Association, but sadly no one is left, so it had to shut down.”

Don’s daughter, Joanna O’Brien, is a teacher at Buttsbury Junior School. 

She said: “Dad makes sure the stories  of veterans are never forgotten and he values education as a way to underpin this.”

 

Armistice Day and Remembrance Services

ARMISTICE Day and Remembrance Sunday services will take place across south Essex this week.

On Armistice Day - Friday, November 11, gather at 10.50am near the Odeon in Southend High Street for a two-minutes’ silence at 11am.

In the Castle Point area, services will take place at Hadleigh Temple Salvation Army, London Road, at 10.45am and at Thundersley village war memorial at 10.40am. 

Remembrance Sunday services take place at the cenotaph on Clifftown Parade, Southend, at 10.15am, starting in Prittlewell Square.

In the Basildon borough, services and events will take place at St Martin’s Square; Billericay High Street; Laindon (in the car park behind Swan development, accessible via Danacre); Howard Park, Pitsea; St Chad’s Church, Vange; Wickford Memorial Park.

In Castle Point, services are at 10am to midday, at the War Memorial at St Marys, High Street, South Benfleet; at Canvey Island Paddocks in Long Road at 10.40am; at St James the Less church in Hadleigh at 10.45am and at St Peter’s Church, Thundersley, on the vicarage green at 10.45am.

In Rayleigh, a parade will leave Websters Way car park at 9.40am. A service is at 10.20am outside Royal British Legion Memorial Hall.

A streamed service on Sunday is at 9am from St Margaret’s Church, Lime Avenue, Leigh, via saintmargaretsleigh.org/live-streaming/ with a community remembrance service (not streamed) taking place at 10:45am.