People can enjoy a packed day of armed forces-themed celebrations in Wolverhampton city centre on Saturday (JUNE 30) featuring live performances, demonstrations and activities - culminating with a military parade led by The Band of the Mercian Regiment.
Armed Forces Day in the city will see retro-singers the Miss Fortunes, the Cosford Military Wives Choir, the Royal Air Force Air Cadets Military Band, George Formby Tribute Joe James Thomas, choirs from the City of Wolverhampton Council and Royal Wolverhampton Hospital Trust and many more - introduced and compered by Professional Toastmaster James Pugh.
The fun will be centered around a main stage in Queen Square between from 11am – 4pm.
There will be stalls in Dudley Street with have-a-go activities and competitions. People can stop and chat at a special ‘Meet a Veteran’ session hosted by SSAFA and Age UK between 11am and 2.30pm.
There will be an opportunity for people to test their aerodynamic skills when the Air Training Corps host a paper airplane challenge. The University of Wolverhampton’s School of Sciences will bring mind-blowing experiments and fun challenges including how to use a microscope in their ‘tweezer teaser challenge’ and learn how the body works in the body puzzle.
In addition, a range of charities and organisations will be offering information including tips on becoming a cadet or how to get into the military. There be representatives from Help for Heroes, the Royal British Legion, The Way, Staffordshire Regimental Association, Go Outdoors, University of Wolverhampton, Scotty's Little Soldiers, the Royal Air Forces Association, B Company Air Cadets and the Royal Air Force Cadets.
The celebrations will culminate with a military parade led by The Band of the Mercian Regiment and a flag-lowering ceremony comprising of around 200 military personnel from HMS Forward, the Army and RAF Cosford, cadets, veterans and standard bearers.
The parade will step off from Bilston Street (near Primark) at 3.30pm and march through Dudley Street to Queen Square where they will be met by a lining party of cadets, veterans and standard bearers.
Meanwhile, a trilogy of shows commemorating 100 years since the end of the First World War will be staged by members of the Central Youth Theatre young people and members of the Wolverhampton Orpheus Male Voice Choir.
The three individual performances under the theme 'If they ask us we'll never tell them' - is an described as an inspiring programme of work commemorating the centenary of the end of WW1. The shows will take place at various city centre locations throughout the day.
More information on the full programme is available from www.armedforceswolves.com
