Veterans and current armed forces personnel will be honoured at a service in Preston this Saturday (21 August) to mark Armed Forces Day.

The service, which was postponed from its original date in June due to Covid restrictions, will see veterans from World War Two as well as current armed forces personnel march through the Flag Market followed by a service held at the Cenotaph.

The public are being invited to the event which will see the Mayor of Preston, Councillor Javed Iqbal, also make an address followed by community singing and the national anthem.

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Mayor of Preston, Councillor Javed Iqbal, said: “It is pleasing to be able to come together and honour our veterans as well as the men and women serving in our armed forces following so many delays due to the pandemic.

“It is important that we continue to honour the sacrifices made in the name of freedom and the sacrifices many continue to make every day to protect our communities and our way of life.

“I am proud to have served the Territorial Army prior to becoming a Councillor and am looking forward to meeting with some of our veterans as part of Saturday’s service and hope many people will be able to come to the city centre to pay tribute to our armed services.”

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Following the service the Mayor along with veterans from the Preston and District Veteran’s Council will move on to the Harris for a private function including a presentation for the former President of the Preston and District Veteran’s Council Colonel Bernard Stam who retired from his role in November after fifteen years.

Colonel David Waters, the current President of the Preston and Distrcit Veteran’s Council, said: “Colonel Stam has been the President of Preston & District Council for a very impressive fifteen years.

“Throughout that time has been a dedicated, compassionate, proud leader and champion of the men and women who have served their country in the military services.

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“He has been unstinting in his time, effort and energy, serving all veterans irrespective of rank in all three services; I know I speak for all of them when I say we have been very lucky to have had him at the helm. 

“He can be very proud of all he has achieved on their behalf and he is thoroughly deserving of the recognition being given to him by Preston City Council.”

The schedule for the parade is as follows:

• 10.30am- Standards form up at Town Hall. WW2 Veterans and guests arrive
• 10.50am- Veterans assemble on the Flag Market
• 10.55am- Standards march on to Flag Market. Mayoral party process to Cenotaph
• 11.00am- Service begins including Mayoral address
• 11.30am- National Anthem- Louisa Stirland and community singing

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