A historian who has interviewed D-Day veterans is set to give a talk at a popular venue in Kidderminster. 

Douglas Smith will be taking guests on a journey through the first day of the D-Day landings at Brockencote Hall Hotel on Thursday, June 6 at 1pm. 

The event will take place as the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of the start of the three-month joint operation in 1944 to liberate France and wider Europe from Nazi occupation. 

Thousands of soldiers fought and lost their lives during the liberation operations. 

Mr Smith, who lives in Chaddesley Corbett, said: "The number of D-Day veterans who are still alive to tell their stories are dwindling, so it is now up to the younger generations to keep their legacy alive, so events such as this one have an important part to play. 

"I will be taking guests on a journey of the first day of the liberation efforts, starting from midnight on June 5, 1944, and will be looking for some audience participation too in the re-telling of the day."

The talk will be inspired in part by the two D-Day veterans that Mr Smith interviewed including Len Smith, who drove vital supplies to Normandy, and Frank Goldsby, who was part of the Coldstream Guards. 

Mr Smith was also a history teacher in Birmingham for nearly 40 years and was awarded an MBE for his services to education in 2012. 

He enlisted support from his students to create a database for the Birmingham Air Raids Remembrance Association, which records every Birmingham-based individual who was killed during the Birmingham Blitz in the Second World War. 

Kidderminster Shuttle: The event will be hosted at Brockencote Hall Hotel The event will be hosted at Brockencote Hall Hotel (Image: Brockencote Hall Hotel)

He said: "My presentation will be somewhat informed by the two veterans I had the pleasure of meeting. 

"Particularly with Len, who not only gave off such a deserved sense of pride in what he had contributed to, but also my own pride too as he included me in his book for making him feel valued during our 2011 meeting. 

"This is something all our veterans deserve." 

The talk is expected to last around 30 minutes with guests also being treated to a cocktail on arrival along with a two-course wartime-themed lunch, a complimentary glass of wine and tea and coffee throughout the afternoon. 

Jack Hartshorne, general manager at Brockencote Hall Hotel, said: "D-Day is a moment in history that has had a lasting impact on our everyday lives, so we wanted to create an engaging event that would bring the whole community together. 

"We're delighted to have one of our local residents, Douglas, imparting his knowledge to guests and we'd like to thank the D-Day working group at Chaddesley Corbett Parish Council for helping us to arrange this."

Tickets for the event can be purchased by visiting www.brockencotehall.com/event/dday-commemoration or by calling 01562 777876.