Armed Forces Day - Find out what is happening in Wolverhampton
A packed programme of community events has been lined up to mark Armed Forces Day – culminating with a day-long celebration on June 24.
This will have drumming, rigging, semaphore and drill displays by Army, Air and Sea Cadets and physical training demonstrations by the Military Preparation College at Wolverhampton’s Mander Centre.
The RAF Cosford Voluntary Band, Military Wives Choir, the City of Wolverhampton Council Choir and vintage vocal harmony trio The Bluebird Belles will perform at the same venue while a range of military vehicles together with a flight simulator will be on display in Queen Square and Dudley Street.
The celebrations start at 11am on June 19 with the Armed Forces flag being raised in a ceremony outside the Civic Centre led by RAF Cosford, with 210 Battery Royal Artillery and 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment in attendance alongside veterans.
The experiences of Staffordshire Regiment soldiers in the First and Second World Wars will be compared with those of modern-day troops in a show at the Mander Centre between 10am and 4pm when people can try poppy and medal making.
They can also knit or crochet a wartime-themed item at East Park Library or Central Library on June 20 between 10am and noon, with the work being displayed at Central Library. Themed activities for children will be taking place at the city’s libraries throughout the week.
At noon on June 21 a cavalcade of Royal British Legion Riders made up of past and present members of the Armed Forces and their supporters will travel via Stafford Road, Stafford Street and Lichfield Street to Queen Square where they will later be on display.
The city’s art gallery will have a show marking 80 years since the Boulton Paul Defiant’s test flight at Pendeford Airfield in 1937 while Wolverhampton Civic and Historical Society invite people to join them on a 90-minute guided walk of the city’s lesser known war memorials on June 23.
Wolverhampton Mayor Councillor Elias Mattu said: “These events are a fantastic way for us to show our respect for the Armed Services while at the same time finding out a little bit about them.”
