Plane gives wings to Armed Forces Day
ARMED Forces Day will be celebrated with a special event in Southport this weekend, featuring a Sopwith Camel aircraft.
SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity, is organising a Drumhead Service, parade and event to take place on Sunday, July 1, in Town Hall Gardens, Lord Street.
Armed Forces Day gives the public an opportunity to show their support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community – from serving troops to service families, veterans and cadets.
All veterans are welcome to attend, and those who have served in the Armed Forces, regulars and reservists of all ages, can take part in the parade.
The event will begin with a Drumhead Service at 10am in Town Hall Gardens, a parade will then take place at 10.30am on Chapel Street, heading up Hoghton Street, Hill Street, onto Lord Street and participants will be taking the salute at Southport Town Hall.
Army, air and sea cadets will be in attendance, as well as a variety of modern and vintage military vehicles.
A full scale Sopwith Camel aeroplane, a single seat biplane fighter that was introduced on the Western Front during WWI in 1917, will be one of the attractions on display.
Members of the 156 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps will also be setting up their field kitchen and will be serving up curry and stew for their troops.
Visitors who would like to taste “Army food” will be given the option to purchase a portion.
Live entertainment will provided by the United Voice Choir, Just Voices Choir, The Ukulele Minstrels, and the George Formby Band.
David McGregor, chairman of the Southport Armed Forces Day Committee said: “Visitors can expect a good day out, and it will be an unusual experience you don’t get every day.
“The whole event is organised by veterans.”
The celebration is set to begin at 10am and will run until around 4pm.
Meanwhile the Armed Forces Day Flag will be flown from Bootle and Southport Town Halls from Monday June 25 to Monday July 2.
The Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Dave Robinson, will be at Southport Town Hall to oversee the Drumhead Service and Parade. He said: “Armed Forces Day is a great way to raise public awareness of the contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.
“It also gives us all an opportunity to show support for the men and women who make up the entire Armed Forces community.
“I would like to ask as many people as possible to take note of this special day and remember some of the real heroes in our society.”
If you are interested in helping at Southport Armed Forces Day, or for more information, call 01704 565006 or visit www. ssafa.org.uk/merseyside or www.armedforcesday.org.uk.