HERE’S everything you need to know about the events taking place in north and west Wiltshire to celebrate the national Armed Forces Day.

• In Calne, the Tesco National Collection is happening on Saturday and Sunday at the Tesco superstore in Beversbrook Road to raise vital funds for the Salisbury-based veterans charity Help for Heroes.

• In Chippenham, there will be a flag-raising event and a two-minute silence at 10am at the Town Hall in the High Street.

• In Tidworth, members of the armed forces will be staging an event from 12 noon to 5pm in Humber Lane.

The local events will give people across the county the chance to show their support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community - from serving troops to service families, veterans and cadets.

Armed Forces Day celebrations began on Monday when the Armed Forces Day flag was raised on buildings and famous landmarks around the country.

Unfortunately, the national event that was due to take place in Scarborough, has been postponed until next year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Large public gatherings such as the Wiltshire Armed Forces and Veterans Celebration normally held in Trowbridge are also unable to go ahead because of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

However, many parts of the UK, and armed forces communities around the world, will still look to hold smaller localised events.

In Calne, local veteran, Major Nick Garland, is encouraging as many people as possible to come along to the event so that other wounded veterans like him can get the support they need, for as long as they need it.

Major Garland, 38, who lives near Pewsey, has been supported by Help for Heroes and is keen to share his story to encourage people to go along to Tesco and donate to the charity to help other wounded and sick veterans and their families.

Nick, who was a Major in 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, suffered life-threatening injuries in a grenade attack in Afghanistan in 2009, spending a month in a coma in Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

It was when he was then transferred to Headley Court that he first interacted with Help for Heroes who were involved in his recovery.

He subsequently undertook two more operational tours for which he was decorated for leadership and gallantry. Then, in 2018, he was medically discharged from the British Army as a result of his injuries.

Help for Heroes helped him in his transition into civilian life through workshops and sports recovery activities.

He is now an Ambassador for Help for Heroes, helping to raise awareness to encourage more wounded veterans to step up for support, and to encourage the British public to keep donating to the charity.

Mr Garland said: “Help for Heroes gives lifelong support to servicemen and women who are mentally or physically wounded while serving in the Armed Forces.

"The charity understands that recovery can be a long-term battle and has evolved to give people the right help as their needs have changed. It also supports their families as it recognises that they, too, can be affected by their loved one’s injuries.

"I would like to say a huge thank you to anyone who goes along to the Tesco store to support this National Collection. Without the public’s support we simply wouldn’t be here.”

A Help for Heroes spokeswoman said: "When a life-threatening injury from a grenade attack while on tour in Afghanistan eventually led to him leaving the military career he loved, we were able to give him vital help in making the difficult transition to civilian life."