The Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire has paid a visit to Morecambe where she met a veteran of the D-Day landings.
Amanda Parker, who acts as the King's representative in the county, met Richard Brock during her afternoon at Bay Veterans Association in the Arndale shopping centre.
Sergeant Brock, from Lancaster, was awarded numerous medals for bravery including the Legion d'Honneur, the highest military order of merit in France, after being part of the largest seaborne invasion in history.
Richard landed on the beaches at Normandy with the Allied Forces as they advanced into Nazi-occupied France in 1944.
Over the next 12 months he helped to liberate parts of France and the Netherlands, saw first-hand the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps, narrowly escaped death after a missile landed on a cinema in Belgium, was part of the famous 'A Bridge Too Far' battle, and invaded Germany's second biggest city as Hitler's forces surrendered.
Richard's dramatic and gruelling journey - staying overnight under trees, hedges and in foxholes, and constantly in danger - took him 2,000 miles from London, through France, Belgium, Holland and then into Germany as the Allied Forces were ultimately victorious.
While in Morecambe on Wednesday, the Lord Lieutenant also visited Unique Kidz & Co, a charity helping disabled young people, and SAFE, which supports people of all ages going through mental health and other life challenges to reintegrate with society.
And she spoke to Beyond Radio too!
LISTEN to our interview with the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire
"It's been fascinating," said Mrs Parker.
"I love coming to towns, villages or areas where I can see two or three places in one day, and a get a real feel for how a community comes together and life in the area.
"I've known about Bay Veterans Association for a while now and the turnout today is very exciting.
"Everybody coming together and there's no competition, it's shared vision and desire to support our veterans and it's been an absolute pleasure to talk to them all.
"Lancashire in particular has a very large proportion of military veterans. To see everybody coming together to support them is heartwarming.
"Morecambe is not somewhere I come very often and it's beautiful."
Mrs Parker was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire in 2023.
She has devoted much of her life to voluntary service and served as a magistrate for almost two decades; and supported young people through sport, especially hockey.
We also spoke to Andrea Farrington-Matthews and Darren Clifford from Bay Veterans Association, and Jenny Reddell from Lancaster CVS (Community Voluntary Solutions).
LISTEN here
Mrs Parker also met members of the local veterans football team who have received £787 from the 3R charity towards training jackets.
Read more: INTERVIEWS: Mums are going to Iceland on Morecambe charity trek - Beyond Radio
INTERVIEW: D-Day veteran from Lancaster, 99, tells his incredible World War 2 story - Beyond Radio
Appeal launched to help save Morecambe sports and social club
Reopening date announced after Morecambe Jobcentre closes for repairs
Lancaster charity urges residents to know how they’re affected by Renters' Rights Act
Lancaster district residents urged to check their details as annual electoral canvass begins
E-bikes and e-scooters seized during police crackdown on Lancaster cycle track
Four vehicles involved in road collision in Carnforth
LISTEN: Popular vlog tells story of couple's second-hand bookshop dream in Morecambe
Emergency team in Silverdale receives donation of life-saving kits
MP offers support to staff after Morecambe FC reported to The Pensions Regulator
Track night at Lancaster sports club to launch police safety scheme for women and girls
PHOTOS: Live music day to raise funds for homeless people in Lancaster hailed as huge success
Former bank turned live music venue in Morecambe to reopen under new management
New parking system set to launch at Royal Lancaster Infirmary
Museum in Lancaster up for award launched by TV historian David Olusoga
MP fights for refunds after Heysham medical centre patients get parking fines in error
Two teenagers arrested after car stolen during Hest Bank burglary
Parents demand further action after health watchdog probe into asbestos complaints at Lancaster school
LISTEN: Lancaster medical students praised for helping man who collapsed
Man arrested on Morecambe beach after report of assault
Police probe burglaries in villages near Carnforth
