On the 6th June, the 81st anniversary of D-Day, Paul Harris from Kents Hill completed his attempt to cycle 22,442 miles, arriving at the British Normandy Memorial at Ver Sur Mer, overlooking Gold Beach, where he was welcomed by a guard of honour, Lord Dannatt and Lord Ricketts.
Paul's grandfather, Private George Hanks, is one of the 22,442 names listed on the memorial that were killed during D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, the largest military operation in history as the Allies liberated Europe during WW2.
Hanks served with the 10th Highland Light Infantry and fought through horrendous conditions before falling during house-to-house fighting at the commune of Estry, 7th August 1944.
Harris' mother Rosemary was only a year old when her father was killed. When she handed Paul the soldier's love letters written to his wife, he began researching George's time in Normandy, tracing war diaries and books to follow in his footsteps, eventually to the apple orchard in Estry where George was killed.
The orchard belonged to the Prunier family. Their 12 year old son (Albert) would look after George's temporary grave for three years until the body was moved to the St Charles de Percy Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery.
In 2016 Harris visited a then elderly Albert Prunier to learn about his grandfather. Albert gave the family comfort that George had been looked after for all the following years, and when Albert then passed away in 2019 it became Paul's turn to place flowers on Albert's grave when he visits France every year. There is now a close bond between the two families and it is a story that has become well known in Normandy.
The British Normandy Memorial opened up in 2021, honouring those that fell, preserving their individual stories, and educating future generations at the newly opened Winston Churchill Education Centre.
Paul is a guardian of the memorial and undertook the epic ride to raise funds for the construction of the Education Centre and the ongoing maintenance of the site.
In his younger days, Paul was amongst the best long distance runners in the UK, but after serious injury, 11 operations, a decade of recovery, and learning to walk again, he undertook one last adventure to bring closure to his sporting career.
Milton Keynes MP, Emily Darlington said "You’ve absolutely done Milton Keynes proud. As your MP, I’m in awe of your determination and the spirit with which you’ve undertaken this journey". Lord Peter Ricketts said it was an "Extraordinary achievement, a great Ambassador and fundraiser for the memorial".
Donations to Paul's fundraising page can be made here www.justgiving.com/page/paul-harris-1690526138662 . So far he has raised over £9,000 plus further donations made direct to the Trust.
Every day Harris' ride has lead to conversations about the Battle of Normandy and remembering the events of summer 1944. For this reason, Harris says it has been his honour to undertake the ride which is almost the circumference of the world.