MAYOR of Wellington Cllr Janet Lloyd spoke of her personal military connections when Armed Forces Day was marked at Wellington Park on Saturday.

In a speech at the war memorial she said she came from a long line of service personnel. Both her grandfathers served in the Royal Navy, one at the Battle of Jutland, and aunts and uncles, and both her parents, served in the Navy or the Army. She said she had also served in the Navy, as had son Ben, and husband Ian had been a Royal Marine Commando.

She added: “My husband became a member of Blesma, the limbless veterans charity three years ago. Through Blesma, Ian and I have met many veterans who not only served in the Armed Forces but were also injured by improvised explosive devices in conflicts like Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Although, thankfully, most who serve in the Armed Forces do so unscathed, there are those who give more than we would like.”

The Armed Forces Day event honoured the contribution made to the country by all those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces and Wellington town councillors, members of the Wellington branch of the Royal British Legion and members of the public attended.

Bob House from Rockwell Green Christian Centre led a prayer for the Armed Forces before a two-minute silence and the Mayor laid a wreath at the war memorial.

Town clerk Kathryn Hemensley gave the Kohima Epitaph and Wellington Royal British Legion member Michael Cooper the Exhortation.

Rockwell Green Primary School deputy head boy Thomas Knell and head girl Grace Tubb scattered the ashes of crosses planted for Remembrance Day last year on the Royal British Legion’s memorial garden in the park.

Armed Forces Day was first observed in 2006 when it was called Veterans’ Day – its name was changed in 2009.