THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend the 15th Wiltshire Armed Forces and Veterans Celebrations taking place in Trowbridge today and tomorrow.

On Saturday and Sunday a host of military exhibits, vehicles and veteran associations will descend on the Town Park close to The Civic to celebrate the national annual event.

Trowbridge Park will again host displays of military exhibits, vehicles, veteran associations, charities, stalls, trade stands, fair rides, children’s activities, laser range, remote control tanks, re-enactors, skirmish, classic cars and motor bikes, WW1 trench, WW1 tank, cadet units, flypasts by Spitfire and Red Arrows aircraft, marching bands, choirs, dancers, and entertainment from different eras.

Jon Wort, Chairman of the Wiltshire Armed Forces and Veterans Celebrations, said: “I am delighted to say that despite some minor competition from the National Armed Forces Day in Salisbury on the same weekend we have managed to fill all our pitches and have another tremendous weekend of fun, activities and stalls to see for all the family.

“A sobering thought is that since the end of the Second World War in 1945 there have only been two years during which British soldiers have not been killed on active service, namely 1968 and 2016.

“We are reminded every year of the tremendous work our Armed Forces undertake on our behalf and we must not under-rate the contribution they make to ensuring that the UK is a safe place for our children to grow up in.

“We must also remember the fantastic contribution made by all our emergency services and it is especially heartening that we are always so well supported by the Fire and Rescue Service, Police and Ambulance Service, whose teams will be with us in Trowbridge this year.

“Once again this year we are expecting a wide variety of stalls and activities and the highlight of the weekend will be that of the Royal Artillery exercising the freedom of Trowbridge and marching through the town as part of the parade on Sunday accompanied by their guns. A spectacle to behold!

“I do hope that you will join me in welcoming all our armed forces, veterans, emergency services, their friends and families and wider friends to Trowbridge for what I hope, will prove to be another fantastic weekend of fun, frivolity, great displays and super attractions.

“Indeed, this year’s Wiltshire Armed Forces and Veterans’ Weekend is once again heading towards the best ‘Party in the Park’ in the West Country, if not the whole of the UK.

“I do hope you will come along with all your family and have a fantastic time saying thank you to all our uniformed services whilst have a great family day out.

“The Committee would like to send a very big thank you for the support Wadworth are giving to those serving personnel appearing in Trowbridge, The Royal Artillery taking up their right to march in Freedom of Town.

“The bottles of Tommy’s Ale, brewed to show appreciation and support to UK Armed Forces, will we are sure be very well received in the sunny weather predicted this weekend.”

The two-day event aims to show appreciation of UK Armed Forces past, present and future and giving visitors of all ages an opportunity to learn, recall memories and make new memories.

Mr Wort added: “The county town of Wiltshire will be able to recall the pride of Trowbridge residents in 1919 when awarded their ‘Presentation Tank’ and show their pride and respect for all our Armed Forces nowadays at an event with something for all ages.”

This year the free-to-enter event will have a WW1 tank called the Deborah 2, which is a replica of a tank presented to the town in 1919.

There will be several flypasts, including a Battle of Britain Memorial Spitfire flypast at 1.58pm on Saturday and a Spitfire flypast at 3.09pm on Sunday. The renowned Red Arrows display team will do a fly past at 12.44pm on Sunday afternoon over the park.

On Sunday, there will be a parade through the Trowbridge town centre streets. The salute will take place in front of the Town Hall followed by the Drumhead Service at the Bandstand.

The parade will meet at 1.15pm outside County Hall to set off through the town at 2pm. The Royal Artillery Band will lead the Procession from County Hall at 2pm on Sunday, followed by gun carriages, hundreds of troops, Standard Bearers, veterans, Cadet Units and two other bands.

Mr Wort said: “Please come along to show your appreciation of our Forces and join us at the Service and Concert with Royal Artillery Band at the Bandstand immediately following the Parade.”

Choirs, dancers and marching bands will entertain the crowd throughout the day with music from across different eras.

The Seend Branch of the Royal British Legion will also hold a Drumhead Service on the Lye Fields at Seend at 3pm on Sunday.

For more information on the event programme, go to https://www.wafvc.co.uk/new-page-2