Songs of Praise

Original version

BBC One West Midlands

Music

Religion & Ethics

Inspiring hymns and songs, together with stories of faith from around the UK and beyond.

Inspiring hymns and songs, together with uplifting stories of faith from around the UK and beyond.

BBC One London

London

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

BBC One Wales

Wales

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

BBC One Cambridgeshire

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

BBC One Channel Islands

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

BBC One Oxfordshire

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

BBC One North West

Aled Jones

JJ Chalmers

David Waters

Matthew Napier

Cat Lewis

Emyr Afan

Avanti Media

Songs of Praise: D-Day 75 Years On

Magazines & Reviews

D-Day 75 Years On

BBC One - Songs of Praise, D-Day 75 Years On

Aled Jones joins a Christian veteran on the beaches of Normandy, 75 years after D-Day.

To mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, Aled Jones joins 93-year-old veteran Harry Billinge as he returns to the beaches of Normandy to remember those who fell.

On 6th June 1944 the largest invasion force ever assembled landed on the beaches of Normandy. D-Day, as it became known, was a turning point in the Second World War that led to the liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe, but it came at a heavy cost. Almost a hundred thousand of the Allied forces and local civilians lost their lives on that day and in the fierce Battle of Normandy that followed.

To mark this 75th anniversary, Aled travels to Normandy with 93-year-old Christian veteran Harry Billinge, who was just 18 on D-Day. He is aware this is one of the last trips he will make.  On Gold Beach, where Harry came ashore, he recalls the sound of the guns and the memories of the men he fought alongside, as well as those in his group who were killed. And later, in the immaculate war cemeteries in Bayeux, Harry shares with Aled memories of how he used to pray with his fellow soldiers in the heat of battle and how his faith has helped him in his tireless efforts not to forget those who gave their lives.

Former Royal Marine JJ Chalmers visits the Imperial War Museum in Duxford to read the diary of chaplain Leslie Skinner, a Methodist Minister who was the first Padre to land on D-Day. He meets Padre Skinner’s daughter Annette and hears how this modest man carried 46 wounded men back to boats, even though he was injured himself, and how his Bible - tucked carefully away - took a bullet and saved his life.

We also learn about the top secret planning for D-Day that began years before the invasion at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire. Home of the genius code-breakers including Alan Turing and Bill Tutte, Bletchley Park decoded millions of intercepted enemy messages giving invaluable intelligence to the forces on the frontline. We hear from 95-year-old Christian veteran Rena Stewart about her time at Bletchley and how after living through war, peace becomes even more precious.

The episode has a very special performance of Abide With Me from Aled Jones on the beaches and among the war graves of Normandy.

Music
Come Down O Love Divine - St Elisabeth’s Church, Reddish
He Who Would Valiant Be (To Be A Pilgrim) - Christ Church, Birkenhead
Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace - Performed By Tessera 
Eternal Father, Strong To Save - Christ Church, Port Sunlight
Be Still My Soul - St Asaph Cathedral
Abide With Me - Performed By Aled Jones
The Day Thou Gavest - Leicester Cathedral


Accessibility links

Programme Index

Songs of Praise

D-Day 75 Years On

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC One West Midlands

About BBC One