Time marches on - yet they will always be remembered

When as young men they and their comrades were poised to storm exposed beaches in totally hostile circumstances, one wonders what must have gone through their heads.

D-Day was the most momentous step in winning the war against Nazism - establishing a foothold in Occupied France from which to penetrate further into enemy territory.

Apart from the bravery, the most striking aspect of this week's veterans' gathering is the spirit of comradeship which has endured throughout the decades.

Time catches up with us all, but it is still sad to see the Normandy standard being formally laid to rest because of old age.

The human side of such a massive military undertaking is fading, but as time marches on the Normandy ex-servicemen and women will forever be remembered in the history books - and on Remembrance Sunday.

Gull population is under threat

SEAGULLS are a necessary part of the character of a seaside town like Bexhill - and many love them or eye them with wry affection.

But even those who find the birds nuisances will be shocked to see the deliberate shooting of two gulls in Wilton Road this week.

It is just not on to make any seabird the subject of target practice with an air rifle.

The worrying thing is that herring gulls are classed as endangered and that populations are falling fast.

To many of us there seems to be a multitude of the birds as they have such big voices and personalities.