The annual memorial picnic in honour of World War II heroine Violette Szabo will take place on Sunday, June 24th at Wormelow in Herefordshire.

After being captured by the Germans, and imprisoned in Ravensbruck, Violette gave up her bed in the concentration camp to a 16-year-old girl who was quite ill and having to sleep on the floor. Hortense Daman had been responsible for saving the lives of 20 British airmen at the age of 14. Violette’s kindness may have saved her life and many years later Hortense was awarded the Freedom of the city of Stoke-on-Trent and also the city of London in honour of her actions as part of the Belgian Resistance. As a way of marking the part Violette played in saving her life, the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent has been invited to the annual memorial picnic.

And in the 100th anniversary year of the founding of the Royal Air Force Rosemary Rigby is hoping that serving and former members of the RAF will also join the memorial gathering.

The event takes place at Cartref, in Wormelow, home to Rosemary Rigby and the Violette Szabo Museum.

Each year Rosemary organises a picnic to give people from all over the world the opportunity to remember the young woman who died to help preserve the British way of life she loved.

This year she is keen to invite as many members of the RAF as possible to join the parade through the village. She would also like to invite any RAF standard bearers to join the parade.

Anyone who would like more information should contact should contact Miss Rigby on 01981 540477.