Taxi! Veteran trio travel by cab to join Dutch Liberation celebrations

THREE Second World War veterans from East Lothian are heading to Holland to join this week’s Dutch Liberation celebrations – by taxi.

Bill Robertson, from North Berwick, and Tom Renouf and William Scully, both from Musselburgh, will hit the road from London on Wednesday after free transport was provided by the London Taxi Benevolent Association, which counts Dame Vera Lynn as its patron.

The four-day event will include visits to the veterans’ home at Bronbeek, Arnhem, wreath laying at Oosterbeek on Thursday, a remembrance service and two minutes’ silence at Groesbeek the following day and an exchange of memorial gifts with local schoolchildren on Saturday.

The British veterans then take part in the Dutch National Liberation parade at Wageningen, returning to the UK next Sunday.

Bill said: “I was not directly involved in action at Arnhem but was with the Highland Division when they moved up to the outskirts.

“This unique visit will possibly be our last, because of the age of most of us. We are visiting Arnhem to pay our respects to those who gave their lives there and we are privileged to have been invited to attend the Dutch National Liberation parade.”