News - Project 65

Project 65 aims to raise a total of £500,000 to mark the 65th anniversary of D-Day which falls next year. Part of this sum will be used to erect a memorial in Normandy bearing the name of every man in the coup-de-main force.

The greater part of the money raised however, will be divided equally between the following charities to help them continue their work in support of the disabled and damaged men and women who have served in today’s Armed Forces:

The Royal British Legion
Army Benevolent Fund
RAF Benevolent Fund,
BLESMA,
St Dunstan’s
Help for Heroes

There are many events planned over the next eight months, culminating in a team of fund raising volunteers who will leave Tarrant Rushton Airfield on June 4th next year and run 65 miles to arrive at Pegasus Bridge to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of D-Day on June 6th 2009. Please go to project65.freecharity.org.uk and check out all that is planned. In November a specially commissioned production will be staged.

The Pegasus Bridge Show!

The show, by Michael Bawtree, is a theatrical production specially written and narrated by Michael Bawtree for Project 65. He tells the story of the daring coup-de-main operation, when a small party of men of the British 6thAirborne Division, led by Major John Howard, crash-landed into France in their flimsy gliders shortly after midnight to seize the famous Pegasus and Horsa bridges in Normandy, in the opening minutes of D-Day, on 6th June 1944. Come and see the show at:

The Royal High School in Bath on Saturday 15th November
Sandhurst, in the Woolwich Hall on Thursday 20th November
The Town Hall, Oxford on Monday 24th November
Carisbrooke Hall of the Victory Services Club in London on Thursday 27th November

Click here to book tickets now!

Michael Bawtree, an early collaborator and school friend of the legendary Peter Cook, lives in Canada where he is a celebrated playwright, director, educator, actor, TV host and producer. Michael served in The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry whose soldiers captured these first objectives in June 1944. Drawing on regimental histories and war records, his entertaining production benefits from his personal knowledge of those who were involved in the operation, as he brings the story alive with words, images and music.

For full details of ticket prices and bookings visit www.seetickets.com or call Seetickets on 0871 230 5538

Project 65 is Registered charity No 1123149