Remembrance wreaths have been laid at the war memorial in Onchan by the village’s branch of the Royal British Legion which is celebrating its 80th anniversary.

The wreaths were laid to commemorate the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940 and the Normandy campaign of 1944.

Present at the memorial were Brian Whitehead, chairman of the branch, vice chair Norman Quilliam, Doug Porter the standard bearer, president Hector Duff BEM and captain of the parish, Peter Kelly, alongside other members of the legion.

Mr Kelly said: ’Wreaths were laid to commemorate those events, but also the 80th year of the Onchan Royal British Legion.

’When it began in 1938 however, it was only the Onchan British Legion, it became Royal later.’

The ceremony at the war memorial is the first of a number of events in the village.

The legion is planning to stage a number of events in the autumn to celebrate the anniversary year.

The events will be held between Tuesday, October 9 and Sunday, November 18.

For more information, visit Royal British Legion Onchan Branch on Facebook, email [email protected] or ring 622314,