St Helens Borough Council, led by the St Helens Labour Party, is proud to pay tribute to our incredible Armed Forces community at a special event this June in Victoria Park. This is a day for our whole community to come together and show our deep respect for the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.
On Saturday, June 21st, we invite residents, community groups, and families to join us in Victoria Park, one of our borough’s cherished green spaces. The day will begin with a parade featuring veterans, serving members of the armed forces, and cadets, followed by a full program of entertainment. This includes a powerful 69-field gun WWII artillery display and music from the North West Sea Cadet Band, the North West Corps of Drums, and The Royal Marine Association Corps of Drums.
Beyond the main performances, there will be something for everyone, with vintage military vehicles, a WWII re-enactment display, a children’s funfair, classic cars, and the fantastic Anna The Golden Age Songbird, who will perform wartime classics from the bandstand.
This year’s event is especially meaningful as it follows the VE Day 80 celebrations, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe. Our commitment to our Armed Forces is a core part of our values as a Labour-led council, and we were honoured to recently receive a prestigious Gold Employer Recognition Award from the Ministry of Defence for our work on the Armed Forces Covenant. As a borough, we have a higher-than-average number of households with a member of the armed forces—6,036 households, or 7.5 per cent. This shows how important it is for us to be a supportive and welcoming home for our service community.
“Armed Forces Day is one of the most important days on our calendar. It’s a chance for us all to come together to celebrate the bravery, dedication, and - Councillor Lynn Clarke, our Armed Forces Champion
“As a Labour-led council, our commitment to supporting and honouring our Armed Forces personnel, both past and present, is unwavering. We demonstrate this through our ongoing support of the Armed Forces Covenant" - Councillor Keith Laird, Cabinet Member for People, Performance and IT.
St Helens Armed Forces Day will be held in Victoria Park from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, June 21st. To find out more about the support available in St Helens Borough for members of the Armed Forces, please visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/armedforces.