A NORTH-EAST expert in popular culture has spoken of his pride at being invited a guest of honour to a service marking the 70th anniversary of the execution of a legendary Dutch Resistance fighter.

Geoff Pattison of Stanley, County Durham, joined dignitaries to remember the death of Hannie Schaft, immortalised in the film The Girl With Red Hair.

The historic event, attended by 900 people, was held at The Grote of St Bavokerk church in Haarlem.

There were speeches by Jeroen Pliester, chairman of the board of The Hannie Schaft Commemoration and MP Sybrand Buma, as well as a presentation by the cast of the new musical Hannie Schaft, The Girl With Red Hair.

Among those attending were the Hannie Schaft’s comrades-in-arms, sisters Truus Menger-Oversteegen and Freddie Dekker-Oversteegen, both over 90.

This event was held in the same church that had been used for Hannie's funeral on November 27 1945.

Mr Pattison, who has a ten-year association with the Hannie Schaft Foundation is a former Visiting Fellow to Northumbria University and represented The Violette Szabo GC Society in England

Violette Szabo was an SOE secret agent during the Second World War and was executed at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp in Germany, aged 24.

Mr Pattison said: “It was a great honour to be part of this historic event and to represent both The Violette Szabo GC Society and Stanley at such an occasion.”

Mr Pattison laid three red roses at the Memorial Sculpture for the three SOE agents executed at Ravensbruck - Violette Szabo, Denise Bloch and Lilian Rolfe.