This year's 60th D-Day anniversary could be unmarked in Southend - one of the towns which played a major part in the historic invasion.

June 6, 2004, will be just another Sunday in Southend unless an organisation steps forward to organise a special parade.

Following a committee meeting this week, the town's biggest veterans' organisation voted not to mark the day.

The Royal Naval Association (RNA) did mark the 60th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic last year.

Its secretary, Norman Summerhayes, said: "We had a full committee meeting of about ten people and decided not to organise anything ourselves for D-Day.

"However, if another organisation wants to do something and invites us to help, we will."

The East Street-based organisation gave no reason for the decision but said it would be organising events to celebrate Trafalgar Day on October 21.

Published Wednesday January 21, 2004

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