Cotswold District Council marks the passing of 102-year-old D-Day veteran
Cotswold District Council is joining others across the region in mourning the sad loss of Kemble resident Alan “Mac” McQuillan, a D-Day veteran who has passed away at the age of 102.
Called a “hero, in the truest sense of the word” at the recent VE Day 80 event at the Council’s Cirencester offices, Mr McQuillan was 21 and a member of the RAF when he landed on the beaches of Normandy. There, he helped to establish and maintain forward airstrips under fire - critical to the Allied advance.
Speaking at the council event in May, where he was guest of honour, Mr McQuillan recalled his memories of VE Day. This included singing British songs, drinking beer, and eating chicken and chips on a balcony in Calcutta – where he was serving in a peacekeeping force.
As well as his role in the D-Day landings, Mr McQuillan was known locally as “Britain’s oldest paperboy” – carrying on with his deliveries in his home town of Kemble well into his nineties.
Cotswold District Council leader Cllr Mike Evemy said Mr McQuillan leaves behind a legacy of courage, service, and community spirit.
“It was an honour to meet him at our VE Day 80 event in May,” he said. “When a D-Day veteran is among us, he becomes more than a guest - he is a bridge to the courage, sacrifice, and unity we gather to remember. His presence reminds us why we commemorate: not just to honour history, but to carry its lessons forward.
“The Cotswolds, and indeed the nation, are grateful for his life and sacrifice. We will remember him”.