Hundreds turn out for Wolverhampton's Festival of Remembrance

The event held particularly significance for 93-year-old Joe Davies, since it allowed him to wear his Legion d'Honneur just days after it arrived from the French government following a 71-year wait.

The award was in acknowledgement of the part he played during the D Day landings and subsequent liberation of France in 1944.

Widower Mr Davies, a great grandfather from Compton, said: "It is marvellous to finally have the medal. It took a long time to arrive but came in a lovely presentation box with a letter from the President and was well worth the wait."

The retired police superintendent served with the 779 Company - part of 12 Corps Royal Army Service Corps - and landed on Gold Beach during D Day on the night of June 9. After crossing the Rhine he volunteered to join the depleted airborne forces with whom he then pushed on to Hamburg.

The Legion d'Honneur will be formally presented to him at the French Consulate in Birmingham on a date to be fixed. His granddaughter Mrs Alexa Trusselle said: "He was tremendously excited when it arrived - like a little kid. He had been waiting a long time and spent almost the entire weekend on the phone ensuring everybody knew about it."

Among those able to admire the medal at the Wulfrun Hall on Sunday were 40 business studies students from Wolverhampton's Colton Hills Community School who had helped to organise the event in which they also took part.

They helped with the catering, stage management, front of house activities and looking after the performers before taking to the stage to read letters sent home from the trenches by troops during the First World War.

They also related their experiences from a visit to the Normandy trenches and war graves together with giving details of their research into how Wolverhampton and Bilston celebrated VE and VJ Day.

Jeremy Brown, creative director of the festival, said: "They did a brilliant job. It was important for us to make this an inter generational event and get the younger people involved in Remembrance."

Mrs Alia Ijaz, in charge of the Year 12 pupils, commented: "It was a wonderful opportunity for them to link their work in the classroom to the real world outside. It was an eye opener for them to talk to the veterans and their respect grew immensely."

Rajdeep Basram, aged 16, from Blakenall added: "Hearing first hand of what they went through has helped me to understand more about the sacrifices that were made. Also being involved in the organisation gave me an insight into how to market and manage an event." Suraj Bhath, also 16, of Goldthorn, added: "It is important for my generation to know as much as possible about what happened from those who were there."

Councillor Linda Leach, chair of the Festival of Remembrance committee, said: "We were really keen to get the younger generation involved this year and the Colton Hills students really rose to the challenge."

The first half of the festival was a service of peace and remembrance with the choir of St Peter's while the second period featured entertainment from former Britain's Got Talent star Jean Martyn and the Miss Fortunes together with readings by Colton Hills students.

Wolverhampton's Mayor Councillor Ian Brookfield concluded: "I was really pleased with the turn out. It was a fitting tribute. We specifically wanted to involve the younger generation to ensure that the spirit of remembrance never dies."