SSAFA leads Southport's Armed Forces Day 2022

ON Sunday, 26 June 2022, veterans and cadets took part in a parade organised by the Merseyside branch of SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, with friendly faces and enthusiastic crowds lining the route in Southport. The day long event began with a drumhead service led by SSAFA volunteers David McGregor and Royston Smith Straney from Sefton, at which the branch's standard took pride of place. The proceedings where conducted by Father Tom Carpenter outside the Atkinson and the Town Hall, within the Princess Diana Memorial Gardens. Following on from the service, the Parade set off from outside the Train Station, before processing past the War Memorial and ending at the Town Hall, with a salute taken there by Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant Mark Blundell, the High Sheriff of Merseyside Lesley Martin-Wright, and the Mayor of Sefton Cllr Clare Louise Carragher.

Lt Col Wayne Kitney, SSAFA Merseyside Branch Chairman, thanked those who volunteered and took part, saying:- "I must give my sincere thanks to David and Royston, as well as other volunteers including:- Tom McKenzie, for the outstanding effort they put in to making this event such a success. I also want to thank all the Sea Cadets from TS Active and veterans who turned out, but especially the people of Southport who wanted to demonstrate their appreciation of our Armed Forces. Armed Forces Day, in fact the entire Armed Forces Week, is an opportunity to show our gratitude to all veterans and those currently serving who have done so much to ensure our safety and provide much-needed support when necessary. Here on Merseyside, Regular Armed Forces were the 1st in the country to be used to run mass Covid testing centres which proved to be highly significant in the fight against Coronavirus. The whole population of Merseyside will never forget that."

On Lord Street, a display was put on of former military vehicles from the 2nd World War to present day. Also, a group of former solders entertained the crowds dressed as fantasy and SciFi film characters. Entertainment on the day was provided by:- The George Formby Society, Danielle Thomas, and the United Voice Choir, as well as the Pipes and Drums Band of 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment Royal Artillery. SSAFA has been providing support to veterans, serving personnel, and their families for 137 years. To find out more, including:- how to become a volunteer for the UK's oldest tri-service charity, visit:- SSAFA.Org.UK/Merseyside.

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