Armed Forces events 'to be bigger and better than ever'

WESTON-super-Mare is gearing up for its third annual Armed Forces Day – with organisers promising this year's will be the best yet.

The main Armed Forces Day events take place at a variety of locations across the town, including the Town Square, Royal Hotel Italian Gardens and the Beach Lawns, over the weekend of June 23 and 24.

The event will begin on the Saturday with a flag-raising ceremony in the Italian Gardens and will be followed by a piping display and Cutlass Frill by the Weston Sea Cadets.

Throughout the day there will be a range of displays including a Red Barrows Display by the 290 Squadron Air Training Corps.

There will also be a display of military vehicles on the Beach Lawns and an inter-cadet tug-of-war competition at the main arena at the Royal Hotel.

The first day will close with the lowering of the flag and a "silver bugles retreat" by the Army Cadet Force Uphill Platoon.

On the Sunday the celebrations start with a civic reception hosted by Weston Mayor and Mayoress David and Carol Hitchins at the Royal Hotel. This will be followed by a parade and a cavalcade of military vehicles and motorcycles will arrive at the hotel.

There will be a drumhead service at 11am before the RAFA Band and combined bands "beat the retreat and sunset" before a march past of standards and cadets.

In the afternoon the Coast to Coast motorcycle run will be arriving at the Beach Lawns and there will be further displays and events held around the town.

On Monday, June 25, there will be an official flag raising ceremony at the town council offices in Grove Park where the Armed Forces Day flag will be raised.

The fun continues on Tuesday, June 27, with a dinner at the Royal Hotel with entertainment from singer, Tim Pitman.

Riders with vintage motorbikes are being encouraged to the Weston Bike Night on the seafront on June 28.

The Bike Nights, which run throughout the summer, raises money for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal and last year raised £11,500 for the cause.

The programme of events ends with a vintage motorcycle display on the Beach Lawns on June 29.

The events have been jointly funded by Weston Town Council, a grant from the Ministry of Defence and funds from Weston's Business Improvement District initiative.

Weston Armed Forces Day is organised by councillor and former Weston mayor Phil Judd.

Mr Judd said: "Building on the success of the Armed Forces event on the Beach Lawns in 2011, this year's show is set to be bigger and better.

"The purpose of the event is to provide a fun and interactive way to raise awareness of the Armed Forces community in general and help the local community to engage and get more involved with full-time members of the Marines, Army, Navy and Royal Air Force and members of the volunteer reserves and cadet organisations."

● For the full programme of events, visit www.armedforcesdayweston.org.uk.

scottsdale criminal lawyer dui lawyer scottsdale asbestos attorney texas