Excitement is soaring with Armed Forces Day plans

Air displays, parachute jumps, parades and performances by the chart-topping Military Wives Choir are just a few things getting people excited about Armed Forces Day 2014.

With just one month to go until the big event, Plymouth City Council is putting the final touches on this year’s programme – which is set to offer a fantastic day out for the whole family.

Sponsored by Babcock, Plymouth’s Armed Forces Day will be held on Saturday 28 June on Plymouth Hoe, against the backdrop of Plymouth Sound. Thousands of people, from home and abroad, will join the city in a celebration that will honour and pay tribute to the nation’s serving personnel, veterans, their families and the many agencies that support them.

The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Michael Fox, and Lady Mayoress will be joined by Air Vice Marshal Sean Reynolds CBE DFC RAF, Air Officer Commanding 2 Group, Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire GCB DFC AFC DL, Lord Owen, Deputy Lord Mayor and the Deputy Lord Mayor’s consort as the RAF and Allied Air Force 25th Memorial Service, supported by the Central Band of the RAF, takes place at 9.30am.

The band will then lead a parade of standards, cadets and veterans across the Hoe Promenade at 11am.

The Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Councillor Michael Fox, said: “I am really proud to be supporting Armed Forces Day this year. Not only is this the perfect opportunity to say a big ‘thank you’ to our military personnel, veterans and their families, it will also bring communities together as part of a national celebration. With our maritime history, Plymouth is the perfect city to host this event.”

An exciting programme of activities, shows and displays will take place throughout the day with not-to-be-missed performances from the Council’s youth music service, the Military Kids Choir and Company B, who will bring the sights and sounds of the 1940s bang up to date with a rowdy energetic show full of swing and swagger.

Military ‘villages’ will be open on the Hoe where people can talk to personnel, view military vehicles and get drawn in by the interactive equipment and displays. The veterans village is sponsored by DDRC Healthcare.

If you like a more action themed display there will be vertical drops, barrel roles and spins with the Tutor Flying Display. The Royal Navy Raiders Parachute Team will get your adrenaline pumping as they leave their aircraft at 5,000 feet creating a stack formation, trailing coloured smoke and flags before landing on the grass by Smeaton’s Tower.

In keeping with the theme of the day, the newly formed 165 Port & Maritime Regiment will be giving a display celebrating their formation in Plymouth on the Hoe at approximately 2pm.

Let the Breitling Wing Walker display wow you as they perform a breath-taking sequence of acrobatic moves whilst strapped to the top wings of their Boeing Stearman biplanes.

If that isn’t enough the Royal Navy Black Cats will thrill audiences with their exciting, dynamic flying displays in Lynx helicopters.

The RAF Dakota Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will grace the skies over Plymouth Sound to close the daytime activities of Armed Forces Day 2014. This year’s air shows are sponsored by UTC Aerospace Systems.

Local bands Joey and the Lips, Supersonic and The Vibes will then provide entertainment into the evening, sponsored by C&G Catering, before the finale performance by Rhapsody – The Definitive Queen Tribute Act from Chichester.

For more information about the event and the programme of the day visit www.visitplymouth.co.uk.

For further information on Plymouth Remembers please visit: www.visitplymouth.co.uk/plymouthremembers

For more information on events in Plymouth visit: www.visitplymouth.co.uk/events