On Friday 7th June, Parish Councillors joined many other local residents in a commemoration of the role played by Headley Court as the HQ for the Canadian forces in the run-up to D-day. The event was organised by Michael Hayman, Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey, who has lived in Headley for 10 years and was attended by the His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Mr Michael More-Molyneux, and the Honourable Ralph Goodale PC, High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom.
As well as a number of speeches, the guests inspected the Effingham Schools Combined Cadet Force and awarded a Special Coin to the outstanding cadet. A maple tree was planted to provide a lasting memorial of the association between Headley and the Canadian nation and the High Commissioner presented a commemorative Canadian flag which was accepted on behalf of the village by David Preedy, Chair of Headley Parish Council. The flag was flown over the weekend at St Mary’s church and at the cricket club and is destined to be kept at Headley Court once the conversion to a retirement community has been completed.
In accepting the flag, Cllr Preedy commented that since Headley Court has become synonymous with the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, its role in the Second World War risked being forgotten. So it was very timely to have some permanent reminders of this role.
