A WWII veteran from Surbiton was a guest of honour at Liberation Day services in the Netherlands this month, marking the country's freedom from Nazi rule.

Connie visited the graves of the war dead, before taking part in the Liberation Day parade on Thursday 5 May.

The 95-year-old lives at Royal Star & Garter in Surbiton, a charity providing loving and compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia.

Connie joined the Women's Royal Naval Service at 17, and served as an Officer's Steward on HMS Brontosaurus, in Scotland, during WWII.

Her husband Bill was one of 10,000 soldiers in Holland in 1994 who participated in an unsuccessful attempt to secure the bridge in Arnhem, and one of only 2,000 who made it home alive.

It was the former Wren's first visit to the country since the pandemic, prior to that she had been attending WWII services in the Netherlands for more than 40 years.

Surbiton home manager Helena Maher said: "Visits to the Netherlands to commemorate WWII have been such an important part of Connie's life for more than 40 years.

"I know she missed them during the lockdown, so I'm delighted we were able to ensure she returned as soon as possible, it means the world to her."

Connie was accompanied by her good friend Marion (Photo: Royal Star & Garter)

She was taken to the Netherlands and the Liberation Day services by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, who worked with Royal Star & Garter to ensure Connie was able to attend.

Dick Goodwin, vice president at Taxi Charity added: "We were delighted that Connie was able to join the other 24 veterans that we took to the Netherlands for Dutch Liberation.

"The veterans sit in three golf buggies and three black taxis at the head of the parade and the streets of Wageningen are lined by thousands of men, women and children who cheer, applaud and shower their liberators with flowers.

"It is a truly moving and unforgettable experience and there are many tears from both the veterans and those who come to say thank you and to celebrate their freedom."

During the four-day visit, she paid her respects at the Oosterbeek Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, and Grebbeberg Dutch National Cemetary, containing the graves of 800 Dutch military. The parade in Wageningen for Liberation day then followed concluded with a gala dinner.

Connie is living with dementia and moved to the Surbiton Home in December 2021. She made the visit to the Netherlands ahead of Dementia Action Week, which is running this week from the 16-22 May, an awareness campaign run by Alzheimer's Society.

Royal Star & Garter support residents to live life to the full and are now welcoming new residents.

For more information, visit their site here.