Thur 6 June - D-Day Anniversary: Secrets, Sabotage & Subterfuge

"In 1944, aircrews from our region hauled agents and equipment across the skies, dropping them to French Resistance fighters in preparation for the D-Day landings. This is their story..."

This event is now sold out. However we are considering adding an extra date - possibly Wed 12 June but this is to be confirmed - if there is sufficient demand. If you would like to register for this date please email us on events@towcestermillbrewery.co.uk with details of how many places you would like and if there is enough interest we will let you know further details. Thank you!

Thursday 6 June 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings along the Normandy coast during World War II. Here, at the Mill, we will be commemorating this remarkable milestone with a talk from local historian, Philomena Liggins, with her talk entitled 'Secrets, Sabotage and Subterfuge'.

Philomena, who lives in Towcester, is a social historian, a former tour guide at Bletchley Park, and an author and a speaker who provides an insight into the intelligence services throughout the ages. During her talk she will introduce some lesser known facts and some famous faces, who worked behind enemy lines in preparation for the D-Day landings. 

Philomena has written three books, ‘Footprints – Secret Lives at Bletchley Park’, ‘Moonlight Serenade – Secret Skies over Bletchley Park’ and ‘First Anywhere – The Story of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry 1909 -1919’. She is currently writing her fourth book, ‘Mrs Bingham and the Backbone of SOE'.

Philomena will be signing copies of her book 'Moonlight Serenade - Secret Skies Over Bletchley Park' on the night, and will be donating 10% of all book sales to the Royal British Legion. The book tells the story of six young women who are drafted to Bletchley Park in the months before the planned D-Day landings. Whilst helping to decipher messages between Hitler and his High Command, they are also introduced to young airmen embarking on secret missions. As the sounds of Glenn Miller's Moonlight Serenade echoes over the airways, aircraft can be heard hauling their hefty loads across the moonlit skies taking agents and supplies to the French resistance in preparation for the D-Day landings. Based on historic facts and personal interviews, this is a story of secrecy, romance, laughter and hidden fears and the inevitable casualties of war, often where you least expect them.

Tickets £5pp, with all ticket sales going to the Royal British Legion. Over 16s only please