D-Day veteran revisits Bracklesham Bay

A D-DAY veteran has returned to his place of training to celebrate his 90th birthday.
Ted Turner celebrates his 90th birthday in Bracklesham BayTed Turner celebrates his 90th birthday in Bracklesham Bay
Ted Turner celebrates his 90th birthday in Bracklesham Bay

Ted Turner, who has featured previously in the Observer, was just a teenager when he arrived in Bracklesham Bay to prepare for the Normandy landings.

To mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day last year, he returned to the South Downs Holiday Village, then known as the Gibsons Holiday camp.

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In March this year, the Waterlooville resident received the Legion d’Honneur.

On September 3, he turned 90 and the one thing he wanted to do was return to Bracklesham Bay, said his friend Susan Harper.

“Ted didn’t know what he wanted to do for his 90th birthday but on Wednesday he said he wanted to go to South Downs Holiday Village for lunch as he wanted to remember all of the friends he had before he went to D-Day most of whom never returned,” she said.

“I called Mark Wilson, duty manager, who was thrilled for Ted’s visit for his 90th birthday and he made the necessary arrangements, supported by Lisa Brooker. They both made him feel so welcome along with the other members of staff and the chef made a wonderful lunch for him.”

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Ted was also surprised by two friends from the Chichester Harbour Conservancy. He listened to a quiz session after lunch and took a piece of cake home, with Sue saying one of the waitresses gave him a candle.

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