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News pulls out all the stops for D-Day

The News in Portsmouth marked the weekend’s D-Day celebrations with a 16-page special edition.

While world leaders gathered in Normandy for the 65th anniversary of the Allied invasion, the UK’s commemorations centred on the naval city.

The Johnston Press-owned daily filled pages one to seven of yesterday’s paper with reports and pictures from the weekend’s events, including a Hercules dropping a million poppies over Southsea Common.

There was also an eight-page souvenir supplement – D-Day +65 years – which included reports from the paper’s defence correspondent Matt Jackson who had travelled over to Normandy with assistant picture editor Paul Jacobs.

  • The News’ front page from yesterday together with its souvenir special, right.
  • Deputy chief sub editor Alan Cooper managed to scoop the front page picture with his snap of poppies lying on the ground in Southsea – taken on his day off.

    The News’ website, portsmouth.co.uk, was also regularly updated throughout Saturday’s events with articles and videos from reporters and photographers in both France and Southsea.

    Editor Mark Waldron said: “The team which pulled together the D-Day events did a cracking job.

    “The website coverage was lively with stories being constantly updated, tales from former soldiers and videos of the events.

    “And yesterday’s newspaper was full of moving stories from D-Day veterans as well as some great pictures.

    “People will turn to us after big events like this and we didn’t disappoint.”