The 150 Day Countdown To Armed Forces Day Is On

The countdown is on to the South Wales Armed Forces Day celebrations returning to Caerphilly with today (Wednesday 25th January) marking the 150 day countdown. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The popular event, returning to Caerphilly for a second year following the success of last year’s event which saw over 10,000 people take to the streets to show their support for the Armed Forces community, will take place on Saturday 24th June. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The day will begin with an impressive parade through the streets of Caerphilly town centre at 11am, featuring hundreds of service personnel including representatives from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, as well as cadets and Armed Forces veterans. This will be followed by a poignant Drum Head Service at midday, held on Owain Glyndwr Playing Fields on Crescent Road, which will provide an opportunity for guests and visitors alike to remember those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Visitors will then be invited to an afternoon of family fun at Owain Glyndwr Playing Fields, where the area will be taken over by an array of military stalls and marquees, demonstrations, an events arena, licensed bar, music stage and much, much more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To mark the 150 day countdown, event organisers have announced what promises to be an event highlight – an impressive aerial display from the Jump for Heroes Parachute Display Team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Alan Higgs, Caerphilly’s Armed Forces Champion said, “We’re delighted that this hugely popular occasion will be returning to Caerphilly once again this year. Our residents and visitors alike turned out in their thousands year to show their support and appreciation for the Armed Forces community, and I have no doubt that people will do so again this year, enjoying all that the day has to offer”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event is being organised once again this year by the South Wales Armed Forces Day committee – a dedicated team of volunteers, and supported by Caerphilly County Borough Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Phil Hubbard, Chair of the South Wales Armed Forces Day Committee said, “I am thrilled that Armed Forces Day South Wales will return to Caerphilly in 2017. This is an important annual event which has grown both in armed forces’, veterans’ and their families’ involvement and the support and attendance of the general public. Last year’s event exceeded our expectations and we’re grateful for the strong support from Caerphilly County Borough Council and our sponsors which helps to ensure the event goes ahead. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“2017 marks the 100-year anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele and also 100 years since the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) was founded during the First World War, when the Royal Navy became the first of the three services to officially recruit women, which gives us much to commemorate.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The South Wales Armed Forces Day 2017 event is being made possible thanks to support from a number of organisations, with additional sponsors set to be announced over the next few months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​