The South Wales Armed Forces Day is to return to Caerphilly town next year.
Following last year’s event, which attracted an estimated 10,000 visitors, 2017’s Armed Forces Day will be held on Saturday June 24.
Caerphilly town centre will once again play host to an impressive parade involving hundreds of service personnel, including representatives from the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, as well as cadets and veterans.
This will be followed by a poignant Drum Head Service, which will provide an opportunity to remember those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Visitors will then be invited to an afternoon of family fun on Owain Glyndwr Playing Fields on Crescent Road, where the area will be taken over by a vast range of military stalls and marquees, military charity stalls, demonstrations, an events area, food vendors, a licensed bar and much more.
Colonel Phil (retired) Hubbard, OBE, DL, Chairman of the Armed Forces Day Committee, said: “I am delighted to confirm that Armed Forces Day South Wales will return to Caerphilly in 2017.
“This year’s event exceeded our expectations in terms of attendance and support from Caerphilly County Borough Council and all those who took part.
“We are really pleased to be able to work in partnership again with Caerphilly Council and our sponsors, to acknowledge and celebrate our Armed Forces, Veterans and their families. Next year will mark the 100-year anniversary of the Battle of Passchendale and also 100 years since the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) was founded, during the First World War, when the Royal Navy became the first of the three services to officially recruit women, so there will be much to commemorate.”
Cllr Keith Reynolds, Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, added: “We really were honoured when the organising committee approached us with a view to hosting this prestigious occasion in Caerphilly once again for 2017. This is a wonderful event where residents and visitors from far and wide can come along and show their support and appreciation for the Armed Forces community. I’m confident we can further build on the success of this year’s event and together deliver another first class event in Caerphilly.”
This is a good event, let’s hope the weather is less extreme than last year when it felt that hundreds of us were competing for a world record, ‘How Many People Can Shelter Under a Gazebo.’ I’ll take a raincoat next year, just in case…
A real pity many veterans are unable to march down the hill as it is way to steep for those with damaged knees and negotiating the circuit around the outside of the walls that resembles an assault course. An alternative marching route would be helpful to many and the access to the drumhead service.
May I suggest that additional bus services are arranged from the other valleys
to get from Brynmawr to Caerphilly took a journey well in excess of two and a half hours and three buses on the way down and three hours to return.