Armed Forces Day

Saturday, 29 June 2024 12:50

Saturday 29 June is Armed Forces Day and flags are flying across Rutland and Stamford following ceremonies this week.

The Rutland Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club is laying on an extra breakfast this morning and providing support to anyone with a military connection. Co founder Tracy Taylor explains what's on offer:

"Obviously Saturday is Armed Forces Day so we thought it'd be a lovely idea if we put an extra breakfast on and Pete from the Grainstore kindly said we could do that. A little bit different to normal, it'll be a buffet breakfast but we'll have lots of people for awareness there so there'll be tables with lots of leaflets and information on of all the support networks that are around for what we've got for veterans and (those) serving within Rutland."

The 1st Royal Anglians raised the flag at Oakham Castle to start the week. Yesterday, personnel from RAF Wittering were at the flag-raising ceremony at Stamford Town Hall. Both were also supported by the Royal British Legion. Today members of the RAF base are also taking part in an Armed Forces Day parade in Leicester.

Wing Commander Nickki Duncan, who's Wittering's station commander, says for them, it's about reaching out to the population who support them:

"It's a celebration. This week is about celebrating the services and how we play a part in our local communities. So today is just a good example. And when we're at Leicester for the Armed Forces Day Parade, that's another example of how we can support our local community and how we can celebrate together."