MEMBERS of the Wellington branch of the Royal British Legion and civic dignitaries gathered at the local war memorial in the local park last Saturday morning to celebrate Armed Forces Day.

They included the local Royal British Legion president Michael Rose, chairman and standard bearer Bob Trickey, the Legion’s chaplain the Rev Sam Griffiths, legionnaires and veterans, town councillors Andrew Govier and John Thorne, the clerk of the council Dave Farrow, the head boy and girl of Rockwell Green Primary School Seb and Grace, and members of the public including the prospective Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Gideon Amos. 

The proceedings were opened by the RBL president, Michael Rose, who said: “The Royal British Legion welcome you to Armed Forces Day which is an opportunity to show your support for the many men and women who make up our armed forces community, from those currently serving, their families, veterans and cadets.

“Putin has shown us that there still exist men who can exert their evil ways by use of force and are only prevented from doing so by countries whose citizens are prepared to place themselves at personal risk by taking up arms to preserve our freedoms and liberties. We owe them a debt of gratitude, and also to the support of the health authorities during the pandemic.”

This was followed by a short service led by the chaplain, two minutes’ silence following the last post and then the scattering of ashes of wooden crosses laid on Remembrance Day on the Remembrance Garden by the two children from Rockwell Green primary school. Councillor Govier ended the proceedings by thanking all for their attendance.