Identical twins with Caithness heritage proudly serve their country at Westminster Abbey for VE Day 80
Proud Caithness grandparents of identical twins were delighted that they were invited to Westminster Abbey for the VE Day 80 celebrations.
Jan Banks from Wick and Alex Banks from Reiss watched the BBC transmission from Westminster Abbey, waiting with bated breath as their granddaughters Iona and Bethan Holmes made an appearance.
The seventeen-year-olds were selected by the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC) to attend VE services at Westminster Abbey. The BBC asked for volunteers to do a reading during the service, and both teenagers volunteered. Bethan was eventually selected.
Their mother, Morven Holmes (nee Banks), said they “did the nation proud”.
The King and Queen hosted a tea party for veterans and members of the Second World War generation at Buckingham Palace. Their Majesties and other members of the Royal Family appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as George VI had done with his family 80 years previously. On May 8, the Royal Family attended a Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.
Morven said: “They do not normally live this sort of high life. The RAFAC is really important to them both, and they are hoping to join the military after they finish their A Levels next year.”
In the run-up to the event, Bethan said: “It was an extremely daunting challenge. However, I was given an immense amount of support.” She did a reading in the abbey and was applauded by RAFAC 1140 Steyning Squadron, which shared the iPlayer link to the BBC broadcast, saying that she can be seen around the two-hour mark: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002bw9s/ve-day-80-the-nation-remembers
Their wing also shared a Facebook post with additional details and pictures at: www.facebook.com/share/p/1AWbHpgoL1/?mibextid=wwXIfr
On May 8, their squadron stated: “For those that didn't know, our own CWO Bethan Holmes was on national TV today at the VE Day 80 service at Westminster Abbey with the King and Prime Minister. [She] and her sister Iona are also attending the VE Day concert tonight and an event at Buckingham Palace tomorrow. All in all, not a bad two days.”
Bethan added: “It was the most impressive event I have had the honour to take part in. I will remember it forever!”
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