Armed Forces Day - Carlisle June 30, 2012

An event to commemorate Armed Forces Day, a national celebration of the UK's Armed Forces - past, present and future - will be held in Carlisle’s city centre pedestrianised area on Saturday, 30 June.

Organised by a large working party of military organisations, including the Royal British Legion, with support from Carlisle City Council, it will be held from 10am onwards.

Organisations represented on Armed Forces Day, will include: branches of the Royal British Legion; Royal Air Force Spadeadam; the Carlisle Armed Forces Careers office; Royal Artillery Association; the Royal Air Force Association; Carlisle Gurkha and Nepalese Association; local Cadet Units, the Cumbrian Military Families Support and Help for Heroes.

Stalls and exhibitions will be in place from 10am. The Women’s Section of Royal British Legion will also be offering refreshments in the Old Town Hall from 10am to 12noon. Monies raised on the day from the stalls and raffles will be shared between the three Armed Forces Benevolent Funds.

The programme will include two 45 minute demonstrations from the Carlisle Gurkha and Nepalese Association, starting at 11am and 1.30pm. Carlisle cadets will compete in a Squad Drill Competition at 2.15pm, which will be judged by Sergeant-Major Lee Cope of Carlisle Armed Forces Careers Office, with The Mayor of Carlisle, Councillor David Wilson, presenting a Trophy to the Competition Winners at approximately 3pm.

The Mayor will also present a Citation of Appreciation to the Armed Forces, at 3.30pm, which will be received by WO2 Steve Woolcombe, BSM 58 (Eyre’s) Battery, 12 Regiment Royal Artillery.

A formal flag-raising ceremony will take place outside the Old Town Hall on Monday 25 June at 12noon ahead of the events on Saturday, 30 June. The flag-raising will be attended by the Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr David Wilson; President of The Royal British Legion (Carlisle & Stanwix Branch), Major Jos Mark; Pipe Major S L Mowbray; youngsters from local army, air and sea cadet units, plus school children from local secondary schools. A member of the Air Force will raise the flag.
A flag-lowering ceremony will also be held on Saturday 30 June at 3.30pm. Attendees will include: the Mayor of Carlisle, Cllr David Wilson and President of the Royal British Legion (Carlisle & Stanwix Branch), Major Jos Mark, and youngsters from local army, air and sea cadet units. The flag will be lowered by a member of the Navy Cadets. The assembled veterans, serving personnel and cadets will then parade passed the Mayor of Carlisle to conclude the event.