Manor of Gillingham visit Normandy

Terry Perkins writes: Manor of Gillingham Lodge No.3983 led a second visit to Normandy at the end of June to commemorate the two World Wars.

We travelled down on the Friday and stayed at the Hôtel La Glycine in Bénouville near Caen.

We visited the Museum adjacent to Pegasus bridge (pictured below).

On the Saturday we travelled up to the Church in Sainte-Mère-Église where the American Paratrooper is hanging from the Steeple. We also visited the USA beaches of Utah and Omaha, calling into Arromanches-les-Bains at the Gold beach. We hope to visit the other beaches, Juno and Sword, next year.

We had a meal in the Les 3 Planeurs restaurant in Bénouville on Saturday. The restaurant (pictured) is adjacent to the Pegasus Bridge. The bridge obligingly opened to let a large Cargo ship through while we were dining!

On Sunday we went into Bayeux for Lunch and to visit the famous Tapestry.

On the way home along the coast we called in at Asnelles just outside Arromanches to visit the Museum and Memorials with a wonderful view up on the cliffs across the Channel.

There were forty-six of us altogether: two members of Manor of Gillingham Lodge and friends, and others from several Lodges in Kent.