County marks Armed Forces Day
Umbrellas and rain failed to dampen the spirits of guests and onlookers as Buckinghamshire honoured the Armed Forces
A trumpet voluntary, a sea of umbrellas and a heavy downpour welcomed Armed Forces Day to Buckinghamshire today (Monday June 20).
Watched by dozens of onloookers and civic guests, veteran soldier Alan Grantraised the armed forces flag outside Old County Hall in Aylesbury Market Square to a voluntary by Max Farmer, the Lord Lieutenant’s Preferred Bugler.
Hosted by Buckinghamshire County Council Chairman Val Letheren and Lord Lieutenant Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, the flag-raising began a celebratory week that culminates in a weekend event at the secret wartime code-breaking centre at Bletchley Park, at which servingservices personnel, their families, cadets and veterans will be guests.
The Chairman toldguests and onlookers: ‘Showing our support gives a much valued morale boost to the Armed Forces. It’s our opportunity to say a huge thank you to the menand women, and boysand girls, who make up the Armed Forces Family.’
Father Doug Zimmerman, Rector of Aylesbury, led prayers on behalf of the Armed Forces, while a guard of honour from RAF Halton lined the steps of Old County Hall. Among the civic guests were Group Capt Adrian Burns, commanding officer at RAF Halton, and Group Capt Philip Lester, who commands RAF High Wycombe.
During the flag-raising, the Chairman held a one-minute silence in a tribute to the late Jo Cox, MP for Batley and Spen, who was killed in her West Yorkshire constituencylast week.