NATIONAL ARMED FORCES DAY 2019 SALISBURY
The Heritage Team at 2019 National Armed Forces Day, Salisbury - 27th to 30th June
This year rivalled the 2018 Armed Forces Day at Llandudno with wonderful weather. During the planning stage we were surprised to find we were required to set up the display on the Thursday before 5pm rather than the usual Friday. We arrived at Hudson’s Field in hot sunshine, set up the marquee and returned on Friday morning to set out the Post Instrument and various other items including Fred the Seaborne Observer. The site was open on Friday afternoon for VIPs and school parties.
On Saturday morning Jenny Morris and John Shere left the hotel at 0600 having been instructed to meet Parade participants at 0630, although the Parade didn’t begin until 1030. There they met with Edward Baker who was carrying the National Standard, Chris Shire who was carrying the 12 Group Standard and Trish Shire. They were given sausage baps and water – 1000 hard boiled eggs passed them by but they were given to the military members on Parade. It was a long Parade through the streets of Salisbury in the heat, unfortunately, along with the others on Parade, they were offered no help with transport to Hudson’s Field so jumped on a Park n’ Ride to bring them to the display.
Whilst Jenny and John were flying the flag for the Corps the display was manned by Keith Arnold, Andrew Ramek and myself. We were also delighted to welcome again Elaine and Mike Norris from Preston Group to help, this is the third year they have been with us, they are wonderful in engaging with the public who visit the display.
The event this year was organised by an Events Company based in Bristol and will not be remembered by us as the most efficiently run event. We were surprised to find that tickets had been issued and all accounted for before the event, this is not usual as it is a public event with no restrictions. However we later realised that The Kaiser Chiefs, supported by a Beatles tribute band and another were playing in the evening and numbers had to be controlled. However we did have a good range of visitors, several said they knew about the Corps because they had seen the film ‘The Battle of Britain’.
John Shere (Heritage Team member for ‘Presentations’) gave interviews to BBC Wiltshire, the British Forces Broadcasting Service and the local Press.
We are looking forward to going to Scarborough next year where the organisation is well under way by the local Council which bodes well for a well-organised event.
Edwina Holden National Heritage Officer.
The Heritage Team at 2019 National Armed Forces Day, Salisbury - 27th to 30th June
This year rivalled the 2018 Armed Forces Day at Llandudno with wonderful weather. During the planning stage we were surprised to find we were required to set up the display on the Thursday before 5pm rather than the usual Friday. We arrived at Hudson’s Field in hot sunshine, set up the marquee and returned on Friday morning to set out the Post Instrument and various other items including Fred the Seaborne Observer. The site was open on Friday afternoon for VIPs and school parties.
On Saturday morning Jenny Morris and John Shere left the hotel at 0600 having been instructed to meet Parade participants at 0630, although the Parade didn’t begin until 1030. There they met with Edward Baker who was carrying the National Standard, Chris Shire who was carrying the 12 Group Standard and Trish Shire. They were given sausage baps and water – 1000 hard boiled eggs passed them by but they were given to the military members on Parade. It was a long Parade through the streets of Salisbury in the heat, unfortunately, along with the others on Parade, they were offered no help with transport to Hudson’s Field so jumped on a Park n’ Ride to bring them to the display.
Whilst Jenny and John were flying the flag for the Corps the display was manned by Keith Arnold, Andrew Ramek and myself. We were also delighted to welcome again Elaine and Mike Norris from Preston Group to help, this is the third year they have been with us, they are wonderful in engaging with the public who visit the display.
The event this year was organised by an Events Company based in Bristol and will not be remembered by us as the most efficiently run event. We were surprised to find that tickets had been issued and all accounted for before the event, this is not usual as it is a public event with no restrictions. However we later realised that The Kaiser Chiefs, supported by a Beatles tribute band and another were playing in the evening and numbers had to be controlled. However we did have a good range of visitors, several said they knew about the Corps because they had seen the film ‘The Battle of Britain’.
John Shere (Heritage Team member for ‘Presentations’) gave interviews to BBC Wiltshire, the British Forces Broadcasting Service and the local Press.
We are looking forward to going to Scarborough next year where the organisation is well under way by the local Council which bodes well for a well-organised event.
Edwina Holden National Heritage Officer.
