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Armed Forces Day - Ravens to drop in
A team of
parachutists will drop into Scarborough South Bay on Armed Forces
Day in the town, it has been announced.
The members of the Ravens Parachute Display
Team, who are all serving paratroopers, will use military precision
to land on the beach after leaping from an aircraft at 10,000ft –
weather permitting. They will be carrying Armed Forces Day flags
and will be setting off coloured smoke flares strapped to their
ankles on their descent.
This year’s Armed Forces Day takes place on
23 June – a week ahead of the national celebrations – and is
expected to attract more than 15,000 people to the town’s
seafront.
One of the parachutists, Sgt Dave Walker,
has completed almost 5,000 skydives and is looking forward to
wowing the crowds with the Ravens’ daredevil antics.
He said: “It always feels very special to
be taking part in events like this and as long as the weather is in
our favour, it will be great to touch down on familiar territory.
We’ve always had incredible support from Scarborough on Armed
Forces Day.”
The Royal Navy will also play a key part in
Scarborough’s fourth Armed Forces Day after it was chosen as the
Naval Regional Commander’s keystone event in the North of England
this year.
Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Band Scotland
will demonstrate their skills with a 40-minute performance and the
Royal Navy will also be bringing their Royal Marines Fitness
Challenge and Climbing Tower to the event. Royal Navy chefs will be
giving “Food for Life” healthy cooking demonstrations, while the
Royal Navy Northern Diving Group will be demonstrating what it was
like to wear old diving gear along with other diving
memorabilia.
The 4th Battalion The Yorkshire
Regiment – now the only detachment with a military base in
Scarborough – will also have a heavy presence on the seafront and
West Pier with paintballing, display tents and vehicles. The
Scarborough event will also feature many other displays, parades,
stalls and games.
This year’s Scarborough event is being
hosted and organised by the council in partnership with the Heroes
Welcome initiative, South Bay Traders Association, Yorkshire
Regiment, the Royal British Legion and SSAFA, Forces Help with
financial support from the Ministry of Defence and the borough
council.
Armed Forces Day has over one million Facebook supporters – why
not join them today? Keep up to date with the latest Armed Forces
Day news at http://172.16.1.17/edit/
Notes to editors
A special thanks to sponsors and
supporters:
The Ministry of Defence, Yorkshire Coast
Radio, Yorkshire Coast Homes, Don Robinson’s Winston Churchill
Charity Trust, Bookers, W. Boyes & Co, ShopMobility, Central
Tramways, Jewsons, South Bay Traders, Military Adventure Park,
First TransPennine Express, Handelsbanken, Waterfront Café, Babnix,
Shoreline Suncruisers, Harbour View Café, Futurist, and Scarbrough
Dance Centre.
Special thanks also to:
Bruce Bedford, Kathryn Duck, Malcolm
Appleby, Gary Smith, Mandy Herrington and all stewards and
marshalsl; Brenda and Eric Horton, Sheila Fountain and all the
charity collectors; Scarborough Sea Cadets, RNLI, Scarborough
Rowing Club, Geoff Jefferson and John Heslington, Andy Walshe,
Brian Robinson, Scarborough Borough Council staff, Armed Forces Day
exhibitors and all the volunteers without whose help Armed Forces
Day would not have been possible.
With Armed Forces Day, the aim is
to:
Raise awareness of the role of the Royal
Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force, Reservists, veterans, cadets
and the wider Armed Forces family in society.
Provide members of the public – including
Local Authorities and businesses – with the means to actively
engage in a celebration on Armed Forces Day.
Cement Armed Forces Day in the public
consciousness as the lead action oriented day to honour and
celebrate the work of the Armed Forces.
Reasons to show your support on
Armed Forces Day:
Our Armed Forces and veterans deserve your
support and recognition because of their outstanding contribution
to the country.
Our Armed Forces make personal sacrifices to
defend the UK and its interests and contribute to international
peace and security.
The Armed Forces and veterans form a highly
diverse community; the serving Armed Forces comprise over 15 per
cent Volunteer Reservists who also lead civilian lives in wider
society; all ex-Service personnel are veterans whatever their
age.
Adult Volunteers provide unstinting
commitment to Cadet organisations, enabling whole generations of
youngsters to achieve success in their lives and to become better
citizens.