Chris Whiteside for the North

I was very sorry to learn that Alderman John Jackson, a former councillor and Mayor of Copeland has died. (To avoid any confusion, I should probably explain that he was Mayor when this was the title of the councillor who was in the council chair that year, and who acted as the ceremonial mayor and first citizen. It was an entirely different post from the subsequent office of directly elected Mayor, who was essentially an elected leader.) John was a straightforward, no-nonsense honest and kind individual who worked hard for his constituents as a councillor and for his community in everything he did. He will be missed. Rest in Peace. 

Remembering all the brave men - Brits, Americans, Canadians, Aussies, Kiwis, lovers of freedom from every country in the commonwealth and all around the world - who landed on the D-Day beaches or jumped out of aeroplanes 81 years ago today so that Europe would be free again.