One for the Calendar
Next year's AFD at Queen's Park, Longton is being planned for Sunday 29th June 2025 when we are hoping to have a fly past by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
Who We Are
Queen's Park, Longton has been the most beautiful backdrop to our Armed Forces Day on the last Sunday in June for many years.
Well over 4,000 people, including Veterans from many services, regular service men and women and reserve forces get together to salute our Armed Forces, supported by cadets, many of whom will join our forces in the future .
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The parade is led by C Company, Corps of Drums, followed by Staffordshire and West Midlands (NS) Army Cadet Force, Stoke-on-Trent Sea Cadets, RAF Air Cadet Squadrons, Stoke-on-Trent Police Cadets, St. John Ambulance Cadets, Scouts, Cubs, Brownies and many, many more. The Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Mr Ian Dudson CBE KStJ and the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent take the salute before everyone including the special guests from all services and our dignitaries take part in a drum-head service.
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Our Armed Forces Day is to celebrate all of our armed forces, past and present.
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The North Staffordshire Armed Forces and Veterans Celebration Committee and the Queen's Park Partnership feel proud to be able to stage this event annually to give us all the opportunity to show our gratitude to our armed forces who have done, and continue to do, so much to keep this great country of ours safe.
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Grateful thanks, as always, go to our team and the Queen's Park Partnership who have worked so hard to make this event possible. To those City Councillors who have made generous contributions from their ward budgets to support the event. Thanks to those local businesses who have supported us for their very kind and generous help and assistance and to the Ministry of Defence for their financial support and advice.
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David Woolrich
Chairman
The North Staffordshire Armed Forces and Veterans Celebration Committee (Stoke-on-Trent Area)
What We Have On
Parade in the Park - Queens Park, Longton
Music from Penkhull Brass Band
Parade
Tribute to WWII,
Singalong
60's and 70's Tribute Group
The Penkhull Brass Band will start the event and also feature in the Drumhead Service led by Revd. Geoff Eze.
Parade detachments will form up at the top gates of the park and begin their march, led by C Company, Corps of Drums from Staffordshire & West Midlands (NS) Army Cadet Force.
There will be a tribute to WWII, in form of a singalong with the String of Pearls.
Sounds Familiar, a 60's and 70's tribute group will close the day of events, starting at 15.45hrs and finishing 16.30hrs.
Flypast Hurricane & Spitfire
The RAF will be supporting our Armed Forces Day and include a flypast featuring Hurricane & Spitfire