News

June 25th 2013

Nottingham to raise Armed forces Day flag

Nottingham will lead the nation next week when it flies the Armed Forces Day Flag on Monday 24 June ahead of the national celebrations on Saturday, 29 June.

The city is hosting the national event and will raise the Armed Forces Day flag above the city sky line at a ceremony held at Wollaton Hall and Park on Monday 24th June.

Members of the public are invited to attend the spectacular launch event that will see four Servicemen parachute into the park in front of the Hall at 11.50 am. Three Serviceman will be trailing the Service flags (Royal Navy, RAF and Army) whilst the fourth will trail the Armed Forces Day flag.

Once they have they have “dropped in” carrying the flag, they will climb aboard WMIK (Weapons mounted installation kit) vehicles, driven by members of Carlton-based ‘S’ Squadron Royal Yeomanry (SRY), to the Hall entrance. The flag will be passed to three local veterans, representing each of the Services who will pass the flag to the cadets. The cadets will then march the flag a short distance, presenting it to the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Merlita Bryan. She will raise the flag up the flag pole in front of Wollaton Hall.

The flag will be among hundreds raised on Monday across the UK when Local Authorities, town and parish councils and local groups show their support to our Servicemen and women and the wider Armed Forces community of families, veterans and cadets.

In London, the flag will be raised on various famous landmarks and Government buildings including the Ministry of Defence, 10 Downing Street and the Mayor of London’s Office. The flag will also be proudly raised around the world where military personnel are based including Afghanistan.

Following the flag-raising a week of celebrations will take place in the run up to the main event on Saturday 29 June. Events in Nottinghamshire will include:

Wednesday, 26 June

The work of UK Armed Forces Reservists will be recognised on the annual Uniform to Work Day, with veterans being encouraged to wear their Veteran’s Badge with pride.

Amongst them will be David Wootton who works as a Processing and Enforcement Officer for Nottingham City Council and Police partnership Community Protection. David is a member of 307 (South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry Royal Horse Artillery) Battery Royal Artillery (Volunteers) and will be one of 15 soldiers who will officially launch the main event on Saturday 29 June when the Battery fires three 105 mm light guns from Nottingham Castle.

Wednesday evening will see Nottingham City Council host members of the Reserves at an evening reception at Nottingham Castle. Royal Naval Reservist, Leading Seamen Derek Parsons from HMS Sherwood in Nottingham will be there with his Commanding Officer, Commander Martin Clegg to speak about his personal experiences. In civilian life Derek works as a Fields Installation Manager for Anglian Home Improvements and is a keen ballroom dancer and teacher.

Thursday, 27 June will see the Combined Services Football Team take on the Nottingham All Stars at Hucknall Town Football Club. Kick off is at 7.00 pm. This special event will see a number of well-known ex-professional players including ex-Nottingham Forest and ex-Notts County players taking part, including: Des Walker, Steve Hodge, Craig Armstrong, Bryn Gunn, Nigel Jemson and Gary Bull, Lawrie Duffield and Jason Lee.

Tickets for the game are £5 and can be purchased from Nottingham City Council (Loxley House, Station Street), Hucknall Town Football Club and the ticket offices at Nottingham Forest and Notts County Clubs as well as the Council House in the Old Market Square, Nottingham City Centre and all Nottingham City Council Leisure Centres.

More details of these and other events taking place during Armed Forces Week are available at: www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/armedforcesday

The Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Merlita Bryan, said: “Nottingham is incredibly proud to be hosting the Armed Forces Day national event. The day is an opportunity to honour our Servicemen and women and pay tribute to their dedication and the enormous sacrifices they make on our behalf.

“Only last week we welcomed home the Queen’s Royal Lancers when they marched through the city on their return from Afghanistan. Nottingham maintains strong links to its military personnel and we are both honoured and humbled to welcome them to our city on Saturday, 29 June when we will all come together to demonstrate how not just the city, but the nation is proud of all our military personnel, past and present.”