Bury veterans mark Armed Forces Day

Veterans and civic leaders proudly raised the flag today (Saturday 26 June) to mark national Armed Forces Day.

Standard bearers hoisted their colours at 3pm at the flagpoles outside 3 Knowsley Place (opposite the town hall).

They then marched to Gallipoli Garden in Silver Street, next to the Fusilier Museum, for a drum head service and an act of Remembrance.

The annual event was deliberately scaled down this year in keeping with Covid restrictions.

The standard bearers and representatives comprised:

• Paul Newton, Royal Air Forces Association, Leigh Branch. Ex-Medic & Branch Chairman covering Leigh, Wigan, Bolton & Bury

• Roy Council, Borough of Bury Veterans Association. Ex-Royal Logistics Corps.

• Kevin Rowe, Royal Naval Association, carrying the HMS Antrim Standard

• Lee McGowan, Fusiliers Association. Ex-1st & 5th Battalions the Fusiliers Regiments.

• Bob Barton, Lancashire Fusiliers Association (Lancashire County Standard)

• Pete Flannery, Salford Branch The Fusiliers Association, representing veterans

• Mrs Vivienne Newton, Branch Secretary RAFA Leigh Ex-RAF & Lancaster Bombers 619 Sqn DFM holder

• Owen Dykes BoBVA 58 (Eyre's) Bty, 12th Regt, Royal Artillery

• Radcliffe West councillor Gareth Staples-Jones. He attended as a representative of the reserve forces as he serves with the Queen's Own Yeomanry, B Squadron, (Duke OF Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry) in Wigan.

• Bugler - Chris Harrison, ex-RN who supports events across Lancashire on behalf of the RNA Pendleton Branch

Also attending were Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of the council, and Cllr Richard Gold, cabinet member for communities.

Cllr Gold said: “We have a proud military tradition in Bury, the historic home of the Fusiliers. We are proud of the contribution that former and current serving members of our armed forces have made, and continue to make, towards keeping our country safe; not to mention the support they have given the country during the current Covid pandemic.

“It is only right that armed forces personnel receive all the support that we can give them, and we will be shortly announcing our new Armed Forces Covenant which will detail all the measures we will taking in Bury to do that.”