York’s last surviving Normandy veteran has been given Freedom of the City at a special ceremony in his honour.
Ken Cooke, who is now 101, was only 18 and working at Rowntree’s sweet factory when he was conscripted to take part in the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944.
City of York Council unanimously voted in favour of granting him the highest honour the authority can bestow.
Cooke, who has written a book about his experiences of war, said: “I want to make sure that young people know about what I went through. It’s up to them to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Margaret Wells, Lord Mayor of York, presented Cooke with a certificate in recognition of the honour at St Lawrence Parish Church today, 26th September.