Mme.Arlotte Gondree-Pritchard

Mme.Arlotte Gondree-Pritchard, the first person to be liberated in France on June 6th 1944. (by our Canadian soldiers?)

Does anyone know of this woman? (I'm sure many do)
Sounds like she still runs a cafe by a "Pegasus Bridge" in Caen ... ?

I learned of her through another website ... the poster mentioned that people should stop by and see her if they could.

GEOFF and OTHERS hint hint

[Barry Churcher]

Brian Gough and I had the pleasure of having a conversation with her at the 50th anniversary. She is quite an interesting woman. At that time she spent most of her time in England. Unfortunately the original bridge is moved . It was amazing to see where the gliders landed on D-Day. If they were any closer to the bridge they would have hit it. British paras led by Major John Howard took the bridge. We will try and visit there again this year and quaff another ale in the cafe.
Barry

Originally posted by Barry C
Brian Gough and I had the pleasure of having a conversation with her at the 50th anniversary. She is quite an interesting woman. At that time she spent most of her time in England. Unfortunately the original bridge is moved . It was amazing to see where the gliders landed on D-Day. If they were any closer to the bridge they would have hit it. British paras led by Major John Howard took the bridge. We will try and visit there again this year and quaff another ale in the cafe.
Barry

That must have been quite a wonderful experience for you men. Right there ! With someone who was there and liberated, and remembers!

I hope you get to visit the cafe again. If you take a camera, learn from Dave Cox's mistake

Carman

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by V_D
the poster mentioned that people should stop by and see her if they could.

GEOFF and OTHERS hint hint

I did on my way back to Holland on 11 June. She served me coffee but wasn't very talkative - she must have been really exhausted by that time. Very charming lady, though.

H.

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
I did on my way back to Holland on 11 June. She served me coffee but wasn't very talkative - she must have been really exhausted by that time. Very charming lady, though.

I'll bet she was inundated with people wanting to
hear her stories. I'd hate to be famous (or notorious) I know people who are extremely high-profile... and they can have it. People won't leave you alone.

Gimmie my Winterpeg igloo and no one but a few people I'm close to... minus mosquitoes would be even better. (they've started to bother people)

I'm glad you had such an amazing time over there Hanno.

Take care,

Carman

[Dirk Leegwater (RIP)]

Originally posted by V_D
I hope you get to visit the cafe again. If you take a camera, learn from Dave Cox's mistake

Yes, Barry Churcher has visit the "famous" cafe again last week.
Barry can tell us (hopefully) more details about the new museum.

Mvg. Dirk