Former headmaster Marc van Hasselt was among those invited to Normandy to take part in the 70th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings.
Marc, who is now 90, was a 2nd lieutenant with the Essex Yeomanry working as a forward observation bombardment attached to Marine Command when he landed on the Normandy shore on part of Gold Beach.
Chatting with Duchess of Cornwall, Marc explained: “I was due to land at H Hour but the landing craft broke down and we didn’t get there until after lunch. I was very pleased.”
When Camilla asked him which beach, he replied: “It’s the seaside. It all looks the same.”
“But you did what you were told?” Camilla asked. “Oh yes,” he replied. “He doesn’t now,” his wife Tessa interjected.