Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Friday 8 May 2020

Epeigné-les-Bois: 8th May 2020 – marking 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe


7th May 2020  – the eve of VE Day

 The war memorial and the church

 The names of those from Epeigné-les-Bois
who were killed during the Second World War





 All is ready for the limited and restrained
ceremony to mark VE Day 


8th May 2020: VE Day

It wasn't intended to be this way in 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day – the day that Nazi Germany surrendered bringing the war in Europe to an end. A time to remember the sacrifices made by many people from many different nations. Particularly poignant for countries like France that were occupied. 

Unfortunately due to the coronavirus the ceremony was  limited to just six people – the Maire (Christian Percevault) plus five representatives.


The front of the procession 

 

The Maire's speech




 A tribute under 'social distancing'




Laying Epeigné's wreath at the 
base of the memorial

 Silence for Epeigné's dead

Epeigné's wreath


NB: all above photos taken at more than 2 metres distance. 


••

Memories from 8th May 2011:

Looking back nine years to a more customary marking of VE Day. As it would have been but for the pandemic. In normal years there is a ceremony at the war memorial and then a second ceremony in the cemetery. In 2020 only the ceremony at the war memorial was held.



 Getting ready to march



 The march

The Maire (Michel Mergot gives the speech)


Laying the wreath 



In the cemetery:










A plaque of remembrance

••

Looking back nine years is also a reminder of people who are sadly no longer with us:


 Piero – one of Epeigné's great characters
with a tremendous zest for life



Gérard Taureau  – a previous Maire of Epeigné (1959-1983)
He died in August 2011

'Élu une première fois au conseil municipal d'Épeigné-les-Bois en 1953, il a assuré deux mandats de conseiller puis quatre mandats de maire soit 36 ans au service de la commune.'






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