Press release -
Stirling Unveils Spectacular Programme to Lead National Celebrations for Armed Forces Day
Stirling, hosts of the 2014 Armed Forces Day national event, today revealed the streets of the city will be filled with members of the Armed Forces past and present, for what promises to be the most exciting Armed Forces Day yet. To the rousing music of the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland the Provost of Stirling Council, Mike Robbins, officially unveiled the programme for the day from Stirling Castle, the very location from which the festivities will commence.
On Saturday 28 June 2014 a parade of personnel from the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force supported by military bands will step off from the historic fortress, weaving their way through the streets of Stirling where they will be joined by 1500 veterans en route to the events field. Here a Drumhead Service will take place followed by an impressive gun salute from 105 Royal Artillery, the Army Reservist regiment responsible for all State Ceremonial gun salutes in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Celebrations will continue into the afternoon, including dynamic operational demonstrations featuring daring fast-ropes of Royal Marines from Sea King helicopters, close air support from the Royal Air Force and an Army Apache Helicopter, and a ground assault with casualty evacuations. Combining the skills of high-octane flying and fast-roping, it promises to be a thrilling spectacle with a plethora of explosions.
The events field will be filled with live and static displays of assets, including Military Working Dogs demonstrations, Royal Navy, Army, RAF marquees and a veterans village, and a model of super-carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the brand new Royal Navy ship soon to be official named by HM The Queen at Rosyth. Naval aircraft will also be on display with a warfare Merlin helicopter and a Search and Rescue Sea King helicopter on the ground, with the crew on hand to share their knowledge and expertise with the public.
In addition to the ground based activity, there will be a host of flypasts taking place throughout the day, and parachute displays from the Army’s Red Devils, and the RAF Falcons. The event will conclude with a magnificent display of current and historic aircraft in the skies above Stirling.
Stirling Provost, Mike Robbins, said:
“Stirling has very close historic links with Britain’s Armed Forces so we are tremendously proud to be hosting this fabulous event. It will be a truly spectacular day out for families – a real highlight of 2014. It is a superb chance for all of us to express our thanks to members of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force – past and present – for the remarkable work they do for the whole of the United Kingdom.”
Commander 51st Infantry Brigade and the man in charge of the military support to Armed Forces Day, Brigadier Paul Harkness MBE said:
”This will be the second Armed Forces Day event to be held in Scotland and as Commander of 51st Infantry Brigade, which is based in Stirling, I am delighted the city has been chosen to host this year’s celebrations.
“Hosting the sixth national event in the shadows of Stirling Castle, with its strong historical links with the Army, will be the perfect arena to lead the rest of the United Kingdom in honouring our Armed Forces personnel, past and present. We hope that we will be able to show you some of the things that we do on your behalf in serving our country.”
Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland said:
“The last weekend in June will be a weekend like no other for Stirling as this historic city prepares to welcome the world! From the magnificent spectacle of Pipefest, to the excitement, music and passion of Bannockburn Live to the epic spectacle of the Armed Forces Day National Event, it is a time for residents, visitors and businesses alike to get involved, soak up the atmosphere and grasp every single opportunity to experience something truly breath-taking and unique.
“This is a momentous and significant weekend for tourism in Stirling, showcasing to the world all that the city and region has to offer. I look forward to seeing everyone there.”
Stirling City Centre will be buzzing with family fun on Saturday 28 June with open air performances from musicians, comedians and entertainers throughout the afternoon and early evening, as well as a wide range of later music events in the City's many bars and cafes, to round off a jam packed day. Further details of performers, timings and activities will be released in April.
The national event in Stirling is just one of many Armed Forces Day events taking place across the UK on 28 June. A list of events, searchable by postcode, can be found at http://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/
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- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- 2014 is the year Scotland welcomes the world, when it hosts the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and more than 800 Homecoming events throughout the country.For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2014, go to www.visitscotland.com
- The VisitScotland Information Centre network is a unique face-to-face channel engaging with around five million visitors and locals each year. Everyone who uses a VisitScotland Information Centre goes on to spend an additional £5.35, generating over £24 million for Scotland’s economy.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the industry contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
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