WATCH: The moment 95-year-old D-day veteran was surprised with party at hospital to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day

Raymond, who was born in Prescot in 1923, joined the 1st Battalion of the South Lancashire regiment in September 1942 and was part of the first wave landing on Sword Beach, Normandy on June 6, 1944 and saw action in France, Holland and Belgium and finished up in Croatia.

He was demobbed in 1948 and returned to St Helens, where he set up as a pig farmer before going on to work at Greenalls brewery.

Raymond, who was awarded France's highest honour the Legion d'Honneur in June, was upset that he has had to miss his official trip to Normandy with the Royal British Legion as he has been ill in hospital with a leg infection.

However, the St Helens Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club surprised him today by organising a special commemoration just for him at Whiston Hospital.

Speaking exclusively to the Star, Raymond, said: "I am absolutely made up it is terrific.

"I don't know a lot of these people so it's nice that they have come here for me."

His cousin Pat Harrop, 70 from Newton-le-Willows, added: "It's wonderful to have this for Ray today, because he was just devastated when he found out he couldn't go to Normandy.

"He got an infection in his leg and wasn't safe to travel, it's been on the TV all day I bet he saw it and felt down so it's good that he's had this instead.

"We are very proud of Ray. He was only 21 when he joined and did it because his brother Arthur went missing in action and was never found.

"His first day of action was D-Day so it's important to celebrate him on days like this."

A poignant moment during the celebration, which was attended by more than 30 people, was when a hospital staff member who was born on D-Day thanked Ray for his service.

Lucy McLoughlin, from Blackbrook, who worked as a voluntary chaplin at the hospital and celebrated her 75th birthday is today, added: "I was born on D-Day, the day he fought.

"So when I heard what was happening with him today I was just amazed and had to thank him and all those who fought with him for what they did.

"When I think of the sacrifice of this man and others like him, I realise how lucky we all are to have them."

Raymond was recently awarded the Legion d’Honneur - an honour that France bestows on those who risked their lives to liberate their country from the Nazis during World War II.He featured in the Star last year when he appeared on the pitch at half-time of a Saints match against Wakefield in June last year.