Scarborough Armed Forces Day June 23, 2012

The Royal Navy will play a key part in Scarborough’s fourth Armed Forces Day, it has been revealed.

The celebration on 23 June, which is expected to attract more than 15,000 people to the town’s seafront, has been chosen as the Naval Regional Commander’s keystone event for Armed Forces Day in the North of England this year.

Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Band Scotland will demonstrate their skills with a 40-minute performance and the Royal Navy will also be bringing their Royal Marines Fitness Challenge and Climbing Tower to the event.

The Scarborough Armed Forces Day steering group can also confirm that Royal Navy chefs will be giving “Food for Life” healthy cooking demonstrations, while the Royal Navy Northern Diving Group will be bringing a gigantic watertank to demonstrate what it was like to wear old diving gear along with other diving memorabilia.

The Scarborough event, which will also feature displays, parades, stalls and games, will take place one week earlier than the national event which this year is to be held in Plymouth.

Cllr Tom Fox, Leader of Scarborough Borough Council and chairman of Scarborough’s Armed Forces Day steering group, said: “Scarborough celebrates Armed Forces Day as it is an opportunity to do two things. Firstly, it raises public awareness and highlights the outstanding contribution made to our country by those who serve and have served in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces.

“Secondly, it gives the town and the whole borough the opportunity to ‘show your support’ and say thank you to the men and women of the Armed Forces community, which includes serving personnel and their families, veterans and the cadet forces.”

This year’s event is being hosted and organised by the council in partnership with the Heroes Welcome initiative, South Bay Traders Association, the Royal British Legion and SSAFA, Forces Help with financial support from the Ministry of Defence and the borough council.