Head into thursday, another bright start, plenty of sunshine around tomorrow, temperatures similar, but all change for friday, feeling that little bit cooler, the wind will strengthen and we will see heavy rain arriving and that continues overnight friday and into saturday morning. We are back with the lunchtime news just after 1 30pm. We are bringing to you a special programme to mark the 75th anniversary of the d day invasion. We will be back in portsmouth looking at the events taking place to commemorate the beginning. Let me bring you up to date with a summary of what is happening today and the queen will bejoined of what is happening today and the queen will be joined by the Prime Minister and President Trump, queen will be joined by the Prime Ministerand President Trump, in portsmouth this morning, to commemorate the d day anniversary, the invasion which involved thousands of allied boats and planes, the Largest Military operation ever attempted. Senior figures from every country that fought alongside the uk will attend todays events. It is the last day of President Trump because matt visit to the uk and following the commemorations he will travel to ireland for a meeting with the irish Prime Minister. Last night the president and the first lady hosted a dinnerat president and the first lady hosted a dinner at the american ambassadors residence in london. By the end of october. He made the comment at a hustings debate with other leadership contenders in westminster last night. Housing minister Kit Malthouse and brexit ministerjames cleverly have pulled out of the contest, leaving 11 still in the running. Campaigners will head to the high court this morning for a judicial review into how the government raised the retirement age for women from 60 to 66. The back to 60 group says that around four million women who were born in the 1950s were not given enough time to prepare for the changes. The government says the rise was clearly communicated. Three in five mps say their constituents are suffering because of cuts to the care system that supports people who are older or disabled in england. Thats according to a poll carried out by a coalition of Health Organisations who say the local authority run care system needs to be fixed. The government says it has put extra money into the system and will publish plans for reforming social care at the earliest opportunity. Arcadia, the fashion empire owned by sir philip green, faces a make or break vote over its future later today. Creditors will meet to decide whether to approve a restructuring deal that will see the closure of 20 stores and a reduction in rent on around 50 others. The company, which owns brands like topshop and miss selfridge and employs around 18,000 staff, could go into administration if the deal is rejected. You are up to date with all the main news stories. Sally has the sport and its all about jana news stories. Sally has the sport and its all aboutjana contour. Very french theme to the sport this morning. Johanna konta. Johanna konta is on a roll at the french open. Shes made history, as the first british women in more than 35 years to reach the semifinals. And she did it by playing near perfect tennis, asjoe wilson reports. The courts of paris are clay, but they are like a motorway if you serve like this. Jo konta just overpowered sloane stephens. 6 1 in the first set. Thats big from konta. Another break whatever lies on the courts surface, its what lurks in the players mind that matters. Konta here was certain. Every point was gettable, every point winnable. Stephens chased and missed. Konta won 18 consecutive points on her own serve in the second set. Her opponent, a former grand slam champion, was out of ideas. Because konta, at her will, could make the tennis ball do anything. 6 4 the set finished, and konta even spotted that stephens final forehand was out. The umpire checked the clay and agreed. It is it is wide the impression konta has made in paris is indisputable. Someone is going to win the french open. Why shouldnt it be her . Joe wilson, bbc news. The mens semifinals will have a familiar feel to them as Roger Federer will play rafael nadal for a 39th time in their careers. Federer beat Stan Wawrinka in the quarterfinals, whilst nadal beat kei nishikori. Anthonyjoshua has denied he had panic attacks before his shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jnr at the weekend. He lost his three world titles in one of the biggest shocks in the history of boxing. But hell have the chance to win them back later this year, as hes triggered a rematch clause. Athletics governing body, the iaaf, says it will seek a swift reversal of a ruling which will allow Caster Semenya to compete without taking medication. A court in switzerland found in semenyas favour and temporarily suspended a new ruling from the iaaf that restricts testosterone levels in female runners. They say the court made the decision without its knowledge, so it didnt have the chance to defend itself. Scotland fly out to france later for the womens world cup where theyll play england in their first match on sunday. The lionesses arrived at their hotel in nice yesterday. Before setting off for france, they were wished luck with a series of posters across the country with messages from their family, friends and in some cases old teachers as well. Really looking forward to covering the world cup, which starts on friday. We will be there with brea kfast, friday. We will be there with breakfast, friday, saturday, sunday and all over the weekend and cover the big game on sunday night, scotla nd the big game on sunday night, scotland against england in nice. And you are off to paris . To start with, for the opening game and then down to nice for england against scotla nd down to nice for england against scotland on sunday night. It is going to be a whopper. Great to see increasing coverage as well. There is. It is a world cup, it is going to be the biggest womens world cup ever. Good, enjoy. Safe travels. See you soon. Thats it from the studio. Special commemorations and courage of the events marking the 75th anniversary of d day will be taking place all day on the bbc and i will be back tomorrow, and naga will be normandy but before that, dan is in portsmouth with a special programme to mark the start of events to commemorate d day and dan, you have been hearing some pretty incredible stories this morning of their and heroism. Yes, we have, so many veterans have been showing stories with us and we will hopefully be speaking to one live later. We are on breakfast until 9 15am but there is programming through the day on the bbc. This is what it is all about, 300 veterans will be here later on, with the queen, the Prime Minister theresa may, President Trump, so many World Leaders from canada, from australia, france and angela merkel, the german chancellor, will be here, too. In fact, the german chancellor, will be here, too. Infact, it the german chancellor, will be here, too. In fact, it will be the largest collection of foreign dignitaries in the uk since the olympics in 2012. They will all be here to commemorate the 75th anniversary of d day. It was meant to be on the 5th ofjune but it was delayed for 24 hour is because of, in british tradition, the weather. Also here today is the defence secretary, penny morton, who will be one of those enjoying what will be one of those enjoying what will be one of those enjoying what will be taking place today. It will be an emotional day for quite a lot of people i think. I think it will be very emotional. It is our chance to say thank you to these amazing individuals who showed such physical courage and endurance 75 years ago. But also, i am so delighted it is taking place in this city. Everyone was involved, whether it was laying straw on the streets to keep the vehicle movements quiet, whether it was all of the stuff that went on on the civilian side to ensure the logistics were in place, it wasjust an incredible endeavour, moving enormous numbers of people across the channel. That is one of the things that has really struck me and so many of the viewers this morning, the collaborative effort, notjust between the british, canadians and americans and others but individuals who were, as you say, laying straw on the street, perhaps keeping the biggest secret we have ever kept as a country. Yes, everyone had a role to play, everyone knew theirjob. They did not see necessarily the whole, big picture, but they knew what their part was in it. I think it is going to be very moving today. Many of the veterans wont have seen each other for many of the veterans wont have seen each otherfor some time many of the veterans wont have seen each other for some time and they will be coming together today. They are obviously crossing on the boudicca, over the channel and i will be waving them off with the Prime Minister and the first sea lord from the deck of the carrier. I think its going to be a really emotional day. A lot of talk this week about the special relationship which was so important for what happened and the success of d day. What have you made of the last few days, President Trump being here and meeting with theresa may, the pomp and pagea ntry of meeting with theresa may, the pomp and pageantry of the first day, yesterday was a bit more about business and today is about this. |j think business and today is about this. think events like this and obviously the declaration that has been made today as well help us renew our faith in those things that have actually made the world a better place. The thing is that both the uk and the United States believe in, those Core Principles of freedom that every human being matters, all that every human being matters, all that stems from that, the rule of law, the multilateral system, nations working together for peace and security. We have done a huge amount together with our other allies as well, to make the world a better place, lifting millions of people out of poverty in the last two decades. We have got to keep faith with those things because actually, they are all we have got. Something else that i think today is very much about, we have focused on d day throughout the programme and we are alive until 9 15am but also the direction of your party is an interesting debate which is taking place at the moment. The last week of theresa may as the leader, where do you think the conservative party will go and shift in terms of who will go and shift in terms of who will take control . Today is not about me or the conservative party. It is about the veterans. But i think that everyone today can learn a lesson from what they did 75 years ago. I think part of the fascination with d day was the fact that the nation came together. Everyone played a part. They knew what they we re played a part. They knew what they were doing and they knew why it was important they were doing it. Today, we will have our own National Missions in politics. Brexit is one, but it is also about how we get social care to everyone that needs it, how we enable everyone to reach theirfull it, how we enable everyone to reach their full potential, tackle the big issues like climate change. How do we do that . We can only do it by working together as a nation and with other nations. I appreciate that leaders are also important and i know you want to concentrate on d day but. And we have done that today as well but have you thought about running yourself . Are you interested in that . Have you delayed things, thought it through and thought it is something you dont wa nt to thought it is something you dont want to go for . Im not going to do anything today that takes news or a story of the veterans and what we are doing here today. They should be everyones focus and they are going to be mine. I understand that, then cani to be mine. I understand that, then can i ask you, in terms of Something Else we spoke about today, the next generation, how important is it that we continue to tell the story so that when. We have got to many here who are 95 years plus, approaching their 100th year, they wont be around for much longer to continue to tell the first hand accounts, that we need to remember them in their sacrifice that enables us to enjoy the freedoms we have today. Well, i think it is incredibly important that we remember our history and we learn from our history as well. Youre right, this is probably the last big occasion that we will be able to say thank you to those incredible men and also, introduce new generations to their story. I think there will be some lasting legacies that come out of the events that we are going to be having today. But i think also, it is inspirational to younger generations as well. That was certainly my experience, talking to younger banks of the armed forces younger banks of the armed forces younger ranks of the armed forces. I think it is going to be an amazing day and im really looking forward to meeting some of the veteran. Thank you for your reflections as well, penny mordant. We appreciate your time. We spoke about the fact it was delayed 2a hours, d day, it was meant to be on the 5th ofjune and the reason for that is because the british weather. A meteorologist not too far away from here was talking about the stormy conditions out on the channel, the fact it was not the right time to launch all of the ships and invade france on the 5th ofjune so things took place, as we know now, on the 6th ofjune. Weather forecasting is we know now, on the 6th ofjune. Weatherforecasting is incredibly important 75 years ago, as it is today, and we are delighted to have Carol Kirkwood with us, not too far away, details more about the story. The weather very important, even on the 6th ofjune when we did not have ideal conditions, but lets talk to these two gents in the d day map room who know a lot about it, more than me. Jeremy green and andy gibson. If i can start with you, jeremy, what was the involvement of where we are in d day . Jeremy, what was the involvement of where we are in dday . This is where 0peration neptune was launched and where eisenhower first spode and then launched d day itself. We are also talking operation overload. That was the overall operation for the defence of europe, but neptune was to get troops onto the beaches. You are the lead researcher at the university of portsmouth, and looking at the map, what are you looking at the map, what are you looking for . We are looking at the first opportunity of examining the map and we are looking at the little pinholes. We think these were created by placeholders over the night of operation neptune when the allied commanders would have seen the placeholders moved down the maps and its resulted in thousands of pinholes over the map and were using it in two ways, 12 say what the allied commander saw on the night, but we are also investigating the damage they might be causing the map. Have you found anything that we did not know about since you started the research . We have used hyperspectral cameras which looks at areas that the human eye cannot see, and there are areas related to the pinholes where we think moisture or bacteria has got into the map over the last 75 years and is eating away at the paint on the map itself. Jeremy, how important is the work here . The university of portsmouth work is critical in understanding how better to preserve the map and enable the current custodians to perhaps get the funding to repair it. We were talking about the forecast as well. The forecast on the 6th ofjune was not ideal because you had to look at the different troops. All the different parts of the components, the machine, navy, airborne, the land forces, wanted Something Different from the weather so the weathermen had to have a period of weather that suited all of them. Thank you, both of you, and i could listen to you talking all day. It so fascinating andi talking all day. It so fascinating and ijust talking all day. It so fascinating and i just want to show you one more thing. Look at the sign up here, sixthjune, thing. Look at the sign up here, sixth june, 19114, thing. Look at the sign up here, sixthjune, 19114, set thing. Look at the sign up here, sixth june, 19114, set for thing. Look at the sign up here, sixthjune, 19114, set for d day, h hour, that was the minute they hit the beaches. Such an honour to be here today, and im quite overwhelmed. But the weather outside is fairly nice. Its a sunny day in portsmouth and the forecast is one of rain across the forecast is one of rain across the north of the country for scotla nd the north of the country for scotland and Northern Ireland and for dry scotland and Northern Ireland and fordry and scotland and Northern Ireland and for dry and bright conditions for england and wales, but having said that there are showers in the forecast. Like back in 19114 at the beginning ofjune, the low pressure is dominating weather, not as deep and area but nonetheless has produced a lot of rain as it moves from the south west of england into scotla nd from the south west of england into scotland and Northern Ireland, bringing us all some rain. A wet start for scotla nd bringing us all some rain. A wet start for scotland and Northern Ireland and the rain will push towards the north west of both scotla nd towards the north west of both scotland and Northern Ireland through the day allowing bright conditions to develop and also some showers. For england and wales, variable cloud this morning and thinning and breaking with sunshine developing but as temperatures rise we will see more showers and they could be heavy and thundery with temperatures ranging from ten up to 20 in the south and south east. Overnight a new era an area of low pressure comes in from the near continent and skirts through the north sea, possibly taking a swipe at east anglia, lincolnshire and yorkshire, bringing rain, but most of the rain will be across northern scotla nd of the rain will be across northern scotland so as a result it wont be a particularly cold night and the temperatures you see are in towns and cities. Tomorrow, a wet start in scotla nd and cities. Tomorrow, a wet start in scotland and the band of rain pushes northwards where it will be heavy and persistent and the uk, are largely dry day, bright spells, sunny spells developing and one or two showers. Temperatures up to about 18 or 19 and then for friday, another area of low pressure comes up another area of low pressure comes up from the continent and we think this one is going to be more potent and will introduce heavy and persistent rain as it also moves from the south to the north of the uk. Gusty winds around it, particularly windy along the south coast where we could have gusts of 50 mph and then low pressure continues to dominate the weather so it remains unsettled into the middle of next week. Dan, it has been wonderful being here this morning. I have learned so much. Thank you, and i think weve all learned an awful lot today. Remembering what happened 75 years ago and looking forward to today, live in portsmouth, not farfrom where carroll is, at the southsea memorial where the queen, theresa may, President Trump and a number of World Leaders will be here today and they will be joined in the glorious sunshine by 300 veterans. They knew what happened first hand 75 years ago on the 5th ofjune and sixthjune. Im joined now by harold smithard, and alex from the bright Royal British legion. Delighted to speak to and weve heard many people speak about what they have gone through. Give us an idea what you were doing on d day itself 75 years ago . Give us an idea what you were doing on dday itself 75 years ago . On d day itself we had been in the access station all night, working all the day before, and i was inside the turret of a twin four inch gun. So all i could see was part of the ship astern and until all of the troops had gone, we were there on the e boat orfor air attacks. Troops had gone, we were there on the e boat or for air attacks. It was a huge secret, wasnt it, trying to keep the secret and weve talked about all those people trying to make sure that the enemy didnt understand or know exactly what was going to happen. What did you know about what you are going to be involved in that day . They told us that the ships were going to lay off, and then first the minesweepers went through, and then the heavy equipment went, the heavy cruisers, the battleships, just to soften them up the battleships, just to soften them up and for them to put their guns up. And no doubt with the troops, we had motorised torpedo boats, sorry, gunboats and destroyers and then when you went a mile off, the battleships had already dropped anchor and had done the softening up and then we dropped anchor and we had to lower the troops in the Landing Craft assault. They were the small ones where you could get 30 men in. So there was this large area of water, and i mean in some places there was the ship, and they would unload or lower three lcas so they could all assemble in this large area so they could merge into our group. Its amazing to hear you remember in so much detail, and that has what has been brilliant, to hear so many of your peers talking about your experience of 75 years ago, and alex, as a member of the Royal British legion, youve been so happy to put on this boat that will be taking veterans the journey they made all those years ago. Speaking with harold on the way over here has beena with harold on the way over here has been a privilege, but to be on the boat as well, 250 d day veterans there and six of them are having their birthday on the boat, several of them turning 94, as you are, harold, meaning they were 19 when they landed on the beaches on d day or sailing off the shores of normandy. The stories coming out are exceptional, but more than that it isa exceptional, but more than that it is a wonderful moment for that entire generation to get together and reminisce and reflect and commemorate this amazing achievement. The Royal British legion is really proud to be able to help them do that. The support we will given on the boat and he will not end here, it will continue long after the week. Some of those stories have not been told for many yea rs. We have stories have not been told for many years. We have been speaking to those other family members who did not really know what their grandads and members of theirfamily not really know what their grandads and members of their family did not really know what their grandads and members of theirfamily did 75 yea rs and members of theirfamily did 75 years ago. With that in mind, harold, what is it like for you today to be here with the queen, the Prime Minister, with several World Leaders and everybody remembering the sacrifice that many made back in 1944 . The Prime Minister, the president , and the rest of them, the politicians, as far as im concerned, they can keep right out of it. I understand it, but they are here to remember you and to pay tribute to you. The politicians think of all the people. Oh, dear. All they think of is, whats in it for me . I sure are many of your viewers here today that are in agreement. But what i was talking about, harold, the fact that this is on today and there are millions watching at home and they will want to say, as we would love to say to you today, thank you for what you did and for many others in the same position as you, you must have been scared, terrified back in 1944 but what you did and what many others did on that day and in the weeks after that has made a huge difference to everyone watching. Oh, yes. The one or two troops which i met from the ship they said, what a stupid place to pick. Youve got the narrow, sunken lanes. The first tank breaks, so the rest cannot get past. They said the hedges were thick, a thousand years old, and the one that asked me to deliver a letter to his wife personally, i found asked me to deliver a letter to his wife personally, ifound out afterwards, because these were the ones we trout carried were the first ones to attach to the sand, and he said the only way that you could get through was to run and lea p could get through was to run and leap in the air when you hit a hedge and hope you broke through. And then you would run on and he said, i did one of them, so he lasted a few hours, and he said i leapt in, and he said hours, and he said i leapt in, and he said i broke through the hedge and landed on a coil of barbed wire. There was there a german, their arrival boat and i threw mine away quick. Thanks for talking to us. I understand you are looking forward to talking to the veterans rather than the politicians and that is what we have focused on today, and its great that the World Leaders are here today, but what everybody wa nts to are here today, but what everybody wants to do today on this programme is to celebrate the sacrifice of many men and the thousands who are on those boats, on those planes back in 1944. Oh, yes, they were the ones i felt sorry for, that first lot. Well, enjoy today. I know your wife barbara is here today. Thank you not just for today, but for everything, and alex, good to talk to you. Enjoy the day, harold and enjoy speaking to others who went through what you went through. We shall have a glass of sherry later. He is going to have a glass of sherry later. Im sure we can put that on the bbc expenses. Somebody get a glass of sherry for harold. You can have what you like. We talk a lot about the sea effort on the menu landed on the beaches but there was a huge effort from the sky. Thousands of planes, part of d day and john has taken a careful look. Although don, harold. When we changed over to the yanks, that left us a day free. I lived in portsmouth and we were in southampton and they gave us time of. And i got home on the sunday, nipped round to the church and then the next morning we went back. So you had a day off in the middle of it all. Get this man a bottle of sherry for that story. Really good to talk to you this morning. Back to cambridgeshire. Well, here we are, on board one of the dakotas. This aircraft flew on d day and will fly again later today in the special memorial flight. The seats here, there are 27 of them. You can just imagine this whole back of the aircraft being absolutely rammed with burly paratroopers, all of their kit, equipment, radios, weapons, ready to jump into northern france. This cable that runs the length of the fuselages where they would have clipped on their static line to deploy the parachute once they had jumped out. As you get to the back, to the door, there would have been someone making sure it was clear for them to jump out, no obstructions. Two lights, the red and the green. The green on meant it was ready and clear to jump. You can imagine the adrenaline coursing through their veins as they leapt out, destination northern france and the liberation of europe. In 1944, a 20 year old paratrooper was training for d day. His army pay book shows how some of his training took place at netheravon airfield, in wiltshire. 75 years on, and harry reid has returned to netheravon, and is about to return to paratrooping. Its nice to meet you. Great to meet you, too. Now, as then, harry is turned out immaculately, but these days, his uniform is that of the salvation army, and his jump today will raise money for it. He meets his modern day equivalents, paratroopers from the us and the uk, who willjump alongside him and who have much in common. You had to push hard enough to miss the back of the hull, so that your parachute didnt push you forward because that banged your nose on the other side. Which they called ringing the bell, by the way. We all go through tough training, and at the end of the day, its ourjobs to jump out of aeroplanes behind enemy lines. And its something we look back on, and we will always remember they were the trailblazers. Returned from northern france, and despite his age, he was fully aware of what he was being ordered to do on that day
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