31 March 2008
National Veterans Day Events Programme Starts to take
Shape
The UK’s number one resort is masterminding the country’s
largest ever celebration of HM forces veterans.
Blackpool is busy planning numerous high profile events for not
only the official National Veterans Day on Friday, 27 June 2008,
but for a nine-day long event that will involve the whole town and
draw in visitors from all over the UK.
Highlights of the festivities, which run 21st June to 29th
June 2008, will include a night time parachute drop onto the
beach, military land, sea and air displays, the opportunity to get
up close to vintage vehicles, veterans’ badge presentations, an
evening parade and events for families and school groups.
The event aims to highlight that there are veterans of all ages,
both male and female and that they come from many different
cultural backgrounds.
The Ministry of Defence has pledged to provide £25,000 towards
the cost of Blackpool's celebrations, which are supported by the
NWDA. In June 2007 funding of £3.5 million was been approved by the
NWDA to support a programme of signature events in Blackpool over a
three year period.
Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing at the NWDA,
said:
“Blackpool is putting an enormous amount of effort into ensuring
veterans and other visitors thoroughly enjoy National Veterans Day
and the week’s festivities. The NWDA was delighted when Blackpool
was announced as host of the celebrations and these exciting plans
demonstrate the commitment the town has to creating a successful
event.
“Major events such as this are hugely important, both in terms
of economic impact and in promoting Blackpool as a year-round
resort.”
Saturday, 21st June and Sunday, 22nd June 2008 will see
land, sea and air military displays and exhibitions transform the
promenade near North Pier with a buzz of activity. Take a closer
look at the trades and equipment used by the Armed Forces and
experience a Royal Marine beach landing. Enjoy a nostalgic journey
back in time as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flights’ vintage
WWII flying machines - Hurricane, Spitfire and Dakota - soar
through the air.
The RAF Falcons’ parachute display team will be dropping in over
the weekend to say hello from 12,000 feet and helicopter search and
rescue teams will demonstrate their vital skills. Also showcased
will be the agile Hawk Jet. In level-flying, this plane of choice
of the Red Arrows approaches the speed of sound. Other planes to be
spotted over the weekend include the Tucano and Tutor training
aircraft.
Activities planned for National Veterans Day on Friday, 27th
June 2008, include a veterans parade through the town, followed by
a spectacular illuminated beach-landing by the Red Devils parachute
display team, who are serving military from the parachute regiment.
The finale will include a massive firework display.
The Veterans Badge Challenge, taking place throughout the
nine-day event will see veterans young and old collecting their
badges in unusual and daring ways. This will demonstrate the
transferable skills learned in the forces, including diving,
climbing and abseiling. On National Veterans Day itself, a young
veteran will make a daring dive into the shark tank at Blackpool’s
Sealife Centre to claim his badge.
All ex-Service personnel are entitled to apply for the HM Armed
Forces Veterans Badge and many veterans from all over the country
will be presented with theirs on Veterans Day in Blackpool. The
Veterans Badge was established in 2004 and over 550,000 have been
issued to date.
A Gala Dinner on Wednesday, 25th June 2008 at the stunning
Empress Ballroom welcomes veterans and their friends and families
to a five-course meal, including entertainment from the Lancashire
Royal Artillery Band and post-dinner cabaret. Early booking is
recommended and tickets are available at £16 a head on 01253 299
277.
Sunday, 29th June 2008 is Sporting Sunday and will feature the
Veterans Golf Tournament and Veterans Cricket Match, both in the
town’s Stanley Park. The golf tournament will feature
intergenerational teams, one of which must be a veteran, and the
cricket, which runs alongside a family fun day and afternoon tea,
will pit veterans of all ages against currently serving forces.
Free activities for schools throughout the event include tree
planting in memory of conflicts, a schools’ Veterans Day tribute,
schools’ visits by veterans and a war time cinema experience,
featuring archive news footage of children being fitted for gas
masks, plus a light-hearted Laurel and Hardy film. Schools can book
free tickets for the cinema show at the Odeon from Aishling McGinty
at Highfield Humanities College on 01253 310 925 or aishling.mcginty@highfield.blackpool.sch.uk
Blackpool is no new-comer to hosting veterans events and
pioneered the country’s first festivities in 2005. It has run its
own Veterans Week every year since then, as well as being a
favourite resort for veterans get-togethers since WWII.
The third annual National Veterans Day is a chance for the
nation to recognise the contribution made by veterans of all ages
in conflicts both past and present.
A large number of Veterans Day events, ranging in size, will be
taking place across the UK during the summer, although Blackpool’s
contribution will be the largest and will take the national focus.
Events are being organised by Blackpool Council, the Fylde
Ex-Service Liaison Committee and veterans.
Derek Twigg, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Veterans
Minister, said:
“Veterans are of all ages with a variety of different
backgrounds, and they all deserve our recognition. Not only have
they honoured their commitment to defend our country’s interests in
Service, they have also used their skills and experiences to enrich
their local communities.
“With the establishment of an annual Veterans Day, each year June
27 is our chance to recognise the achievements of those veterans
who live amongst us.”
Mayor of Blackpool, Cllr Robert Wynne, said:
"Blackpool is absolutely delighted to have been chosen as the
host for National Veterans Day 2008, it’s a great honour for the
town.
"Blackpool has many historical links with the Armed Forces and has
a special place in the hearts of many veterans. Every year we
welcome a large number of Ex-Service Associations into the resort
for their annual reunions.
"We have been holding an annual Veterans Week here in Blackpool
since 2005, and plans are already well underway to make this year's
celebration even more special."
Regular updates on events will be posted at www.veteransweek.co.uk, where
you can also sign up for a newsletter or call 01253 478 2222.
Sara Teiger PR
120 Grosvenor Street
All Saints
Manchester M1 7HL
T: 0161 273 4464
M: 07711 804 692
sara@stpr.co.uk