A Normandy invasion

SIR – The entente cordiale, so much in evidence during the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings in 2014, is in danger of being fractured on the 75th anniversary next year.

As well as learning that local hoteliers are doubling their prices for June 2019 in the hope of making a killing from visiting veterans, we have now been informed that a Dutch company called Liberty Concerts plans to hold a pop concert on the afternoon and evening of June 6 on Sword Beach. The organisers are hoping to attract 75,000 people and the noise will inevitably be heard for miles around.

This could adversely affect ceremonies being held elsewhere, in particular those at Pegasus Bridge, a mere three miles away, where its capture and that of the nearby river bridge in the early hours of D-day by a company of the 2nd Bn Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry landing in gliders is remembered.

The idea of a pop concert on one of the landing beaches on such a day is grossly disrespectful to those troops who fought and died on Sword Beach on D-day. The Government should make the strongest representations to the French authorities to have this disgraceful proposal scrapped.

Roy Bailey Great Shefford, Berkshire