Fitting tribute to town heroes

IT WAS looking very grey and drizzly during the early hours of Sunday morning.

The clouds were so low that a Supermarine Spitfire, due fly over our town, had to stay parked up at Blackpool. But it takes a lot more than a few raindrops to stop Southport’s Armed Forces veterans – and the crowds who turned up to cheer them on.

Armed Forces Day has grown considerably over the years, and it is a great occasion to witness.

Organised by the SSAFA Armed Forces charity, the event is made possible thanks to lots of hard work from local volunteers, and their work is much appreciated.

Even the weather eventually played its part, brightening up enough to allow a moving service to take place in front of The Atkinson, before columns of various detachments formed up along Chapel Street.

There were people there representing The Army, the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy, cadets, serving soldiers, war veterans – all with their own part to play.

It was great to see hundreds of local people turn out to cheer them on as they paraded down Lord Street and other roads in the town centre.

Cars waited patiently to allow the parade to pass. Even the Spitfire, after a two-hour delay, finally flew over.

Remembrance Sunday in Southport has always been very well observed, but that is a time to remember the fallen and the sacrifices they made.

Armed Forces Day is a much more recent invention, and it has the excellent premise of celebrating all those who keep the rest of us safe and guarantee our every day freedoms. Long may this celebration continue.