Rushmoor Borough Council

Town to pull out the stops for armed forces day

ARMED Forces Day will this year be marked by an increased number of official events in Aldershot.

Rushmoor Borough Council has announced plans to celebrate the day, on Saturday (June 25), with at least 23 town centre shops offering discounts of up to 20% for current service personnel and their families who show military identification.

Participating shops will display posters and the offer will run between June 25 and July 2 as a show of appreciation to those serving in the army.

In addition, the flag raising-ceremony, which took place in Farnborough last year, has been moved to Princes Gardens in Aldershot  and will take place on Monday (June 20) at 10.30am.

The Farnborough Concert Band of the Royal British Legion will perform in front of shoppers in the town centre on Saturday, June 25.

Elsewhere, singing trio The Soldiers are to close out the Aldershot Garrison Show on July 2 in another tribute to the servicemen and women.

The act consists of three British Army soldiers who released their debut album, Coming Home, in 2009.

Armed Forces Day is an annual celebration with events held across the country to honour the armed forces community, including serving troops, service families, cadets and veterans.

The news that Aldershot will host much of this year’s event comes following criticism of last year’s day, which saw no official tributes occur in the town despite it being known as the ‘home of the British Army’.

A letter from an armed forces veteran, published in the News & Mail following last year’s celebrations, highlighted a perceived lack of support shown in Aldershot.

Graham Culton, 35, wrote: “I suffer from combat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and I felt very ashamed to go out on Saturday, due to there being no parade or event organised in Aldershot.”

Rushmoor Borough Council will hope to have redressed the balance this year and David Phillips, town centre and cultural manager at the council, spoke of the importance of supporting such an important part of Aldershot’s heritage.

“We felt it was more appropriate to hold these events in Aldershot,” he said. “It’s an important day and we are constantly proud of what our armed forces are doing.

“With the support of local traders, this is a great way to show how Aldershot supports its military community.”

The Trafalgar Inn, Aldershot’s only remaining military pub, is planning a series of celebrations of its own, having previously held a 1940s-themed party in 2009 to mark the occasion.

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This Council notes, despite opposition of some MPs and MEPs, the Government is likely to agree a further 2.9% increase in the overall EU budget.

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This Council therefore urges the Government and MEPs not to support an increase in the EU budget.

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