Week of celebrating our armed forces begins

21/06/2022

A second world war Spitfire flypast is part of the Armed Forces Day event at the end of the week

A week of celebrating our armed forces began yesterday with the Armed Forces flag raised in a number of places locally.   The week builds towards Armed Forces Day with an action-packed event lined up in Banbury Market Place on Saturday.

The flag was raised above Cherwell District Council’s headquarters and military representatives and civic leaders took part in a colourful ceremony that saw the banner hoisted to full mast at Banbury Town Hall.

A spokesperson for Cherwell District Council said: “It is a time to be proud of the forces’ place in our communities and the Armed Forces flag is being flown at our Bodicote House offices throughout the week.

“As a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, we are committed to working with the military to support service personnel and their families, as well as reservists and veterans.”

Oxfordshire County Council raised the Armed Forces flag in the yard in front of Oxford Castle, overseen by the Chair of the council, Councillor Susanna Pressel. After a small parade by representatives of the armed forces community the flag raising ceremony took place. Senior military representatives from Oxfordshire attended, as did the High Sherriff and Lord Lieutenant.

Saturday’s Armed Forces Day event in Banbury will feature a second world war Spitfire as the top attraction.   The iconic fighter plane will perform a spectacular flypast just before noon.

The historic aircraft will be just one of the many highlights at the event which runs from 10am to 2pm in the town centre and will include military demonstrations, static displays, and military vehicles.

A parade through town will see current service personnel, cadets, and veterans line up with civic leaders and others in the Market Place for a procession led by a marching band.

The parade will start at 11am and march up Parson’s Street, along Horsefair and down High Street for a salute near the bandstand to be taken by town mayor Jayne Strangwood and Banbury’s High Steward Sir Tony Baldry.

A drumhead service in the Market Place will take place after the procession. It will show how troops hold religious services on battlefields using drums as makeshift altars. The service will be conducted by Padre Charles Lewis, chaplain to the Thames Valley Air Training Corps.

The event is organised by Banbury Town Council and is organised as a tribute to service men and women past, present and future.

Council leader and president of the Banbury branch of the Royal British Legion Kieron Mallon said: “Armed Forces Day in Banbury is a superb event that shows the town’s historical and ongoing links with the military. This year will be another very special day and the flypast will be something everyone will want to see.”

The full schedule for Armed Forces Day is here.

pictures: Julian Dancer


Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam

Reader's opinions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *



Current track

Title

Artist

Background