Raising flag on Armed Forces Weekend
ANNUAL EVENT LAUNCHED WITH AN EVENING OF LIVE MUSIC
An evening of music kicked off this year’s Sunderland Armed Forces Weekend which looks set to be bigger and better than ever.
The three-day celebrations at Seaburn Recreation Ground started with a concert on Friday night with members of the community and those with military connections turning out to show their support for the armed forces.
Now in its eighth year, the event, which runs until tomorrow, has once again been organised by Paul Jasper, along with a team of eight volunteers.
It aims to bring people together to recognise and support the work of the armed forces.
The launch evening featured music from the Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band, who blew the audience away with a range of songs including their opening number ‘All Night Long.’
Soloists also performed a range of songs at the promsstyle event which took place in a marquee in the park.
Today will be a military day, with the event will starting at 10am with a performgetting ance by a band, followed by a march along the seafront by cadet groups at 12.30pm.
Tonight there will be a social event, featuring entertainment from bands, with admission £5. It will be rounded off tomorrow with a family fun day and dog show from 9.30am.
Organiser Paul, 58, who spent 24 years in the Light Infantry and is now a driving instructor, said: “The aim of the weekend is all about the general public to come out to support our armed forces.
“We have got the best armed forces in the world and we should continue to celebrate that.
“Events like this increases the morale of the armed forces and helps soldiers and those in the air force and the navy to know that they are well supported by everybody here.
“Over the weekend we will have the Durham Cadets Force and the RAF Cadet Force from Sunderland attending.
“There will be lots going on and we hope to see thousands of people turn out over the course of the weekend.”
Those looking to come along are invited to make a donation, which will go towards helping to fund next year’s event.
Paul, whose son is in the armed forces, added: “We are also looking at doing another project called The People’s Monument, where we would give back to the community with a monument for the armed forces.”
“It is all about getting the public to support our armed forces” PAUL JASPER