Stirling summer has so much to enjoy

As we find ourselves able, with some confidence, get out our shorts and T-shirts we can consider the many opportunities we have to get out and enjoy the fine weather.

Across our communities there are many shows, galas and events taking place. These are large and small and in every part of Stirling.

There is a packed itinerary coming up, including the Doune and Dunblane and Killin agricultural shows later in the summer as well as the ever-popular Highland Games at Stirling and Bridge of Allan.

These are wonderful opportunities to get out and have an enjoyable, social day, meeting old friends and new.

Stirling has so many summer events it would be impossible to list them all in this small space.

One of our biggest annual events, the Armed Forces Day show, took place on Saturday and I was proud to be one of so many people that spent a day being entertained while expressing our support for all our service personnel.

Our show is one of hundreds of such events, ranging from parades to fundraisers, which took place across the UK at the end of June.

On every occasion volunteers give up their time to organise an event which brings people together in their communities, providing great entertainment but also opportunities to learn more about what our men and women in uniform do and how they are supported.

The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) is one such charity that provides essential support to those currently serving, veterans and families. For example, its dedicated Forcesline dealt with over 25,000 inquiries in 2016.

Many residents across the Stirling area have served or are currently serving in branches of our military forces and this reinforces our long and distinguished association with the military.

The founder of the SAS, David Stirling, was born near Bridge of Allan and the city of Stirling is home to the legendary Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, also known as The Thin Red Line after their action during the Battle of Balaclava.

The regiment was based in Stirling Castle, where you can now find their excellent museum. The museum is currently looking for support to maintain their historic collection and I encourage everyone to visit and give their support.

Currently Stirling is the location for the headquarters of the 51st Brigade while 43 Squadron was formed in Stirling in 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps.

The RFC joined with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the RAF two years later and Stirling was for a time the headquarters of the RAF in Scotland.

Stirling is also officially affiliated with the offshore patrol vessel HMS Forth, which was commissioned into the Royal Navy in April this year and is earmarked to become the appointed guardship for the Falkland Islands.

These are just some examples of why Stirling and our armed forces share a deep and special relationship, a relationship that will extend far into the future and one that we should all be very proud of.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer, whatever you may be doing, and that we may share a trip to some of the many events large and small that will take place in the next couple of months.

Something I am sure we can all agree on is to hope that the weather is kind to all those volunteers and organisers that are working so hard to put on events for our enjoyment.

Across our communities there are many shows, galas and events taking place