More than 1,000 war veterans from throughout Britain joined the Duchess of Kent for the official opening of the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield. The duchess toured the 150-acre site in an all-terrain vehicle and took part in a service of celebration in the country‘s only Millennium chapel at the Alrewas site. She was shown plots sponsored by organisations including the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Normandy and Dunkirk Veterans, Royal Irish, United Nations and Lichfield District Council. Guests included Staffordshire's Chief Constable John Giffard, the High Sheriff on Staffordshire - the Countess of Shrewsbury and Waterford - and county council chairman Roger Wright. Pictures If you would like to see larger versions of the above pictures (16kb - 42kb) then just click on the appropriate picture. Two other pictures which are available An old soldier and his wife (22kb) Veterans waiting for the Duchess (45kb) All of these pictures will be in a separate window Story and pictures - courtesy of the "Express and Star", Wolverhampton.

The duchess planted a millennium yew tree to mark the occasion and cut a ribbon to officially open the site, which was funded by a £1.78 million Lottery grant, to the public. Ex-servicemen and women and standard bearers assembled at different plots throughout the site, braving muddy conditions, to meet her. Normandy veteran Ken Robinson, from Chasetown, said: "When we travel abroad to places like Holland we find five and six-year-old kids who know all about the war. "Over here it is not the same but hopefully the arboretum will help to educate people. It is my great-grandchildren that will benefit from this." Another Normandy fighter, Dennis Saunders, travelled from Luton for the occasion. "We came here 18 months ago and it was a wasteland. It is amazing that it is developing as it is," he said. More than 40,000 trees have been planted at the arboretum as part of the ambitious National Forest project to transform large areas in the Midlands. Arboretum director Rev. David Childs led the chapel service which started with the nation anthem. He said the site represented the "heroism and courage" of all those who served in conflicts and a point from reflection for future generations. "It is a living tribute to those who were prepared to give so much," he added.