WAR veteran Andy Reid is calling on the people of St Helens to turn out in numbers for two events this weekend that will celebrate Armed Forces Day.
A parade and match ball presentation will take place on the pitch ahead of Saints’ home fixture versus Leeds on Friday night (kick off 7.45pm).
A piper band will begin playing at Saints from 7.15pm and there will be a guard of honour at half time. A parade will take place at half time.
And on Saturday, Victoria Park will host a free event – organised by St Helens Council with supported contributions from the Ministry of Defence’s Armed Forces Day Fund.
This will start at 11am, featuring displays from St Helens, Merseyside, Manchester and Lancashire Regiments.
A parade led by pipers and drummers will start at midday.
St Helens hero Andy Reid
Other attractions on the day include current and vintage military vehicles.
There will also be stalls, a funfair, inflatable assault course and a climbing wall – as well as musical performances at the Victoria Park bandstand from the Lancashire Artillery Pipes and Drums, Royal Marines Association Corps of Drums, Local Choirs, and 1940s entertainer, Goldenage Songbird.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, triple amputee Andy, 42, who was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours list, said: “St Helens town has a proud history within the armed forces.
“Right back from the First World War with the St Helens Pals and there are a number of VC winners from the town.
“I think Armed Forces Day is a celebration – it’s a day to celebrate the armed forces and celebrate what they do.
“Not just around the world, but also what they do in the local community as well.
“There’s just over 6,000 veterans that live in St Helens who have served in the armed forces, and the celebration of Armed Forces Day at Victoria Park will be a fantastic event to say to people in uniform: ‘thank you very much for what you do for the country but also what you do for the local community as well .
“People should come down and take part in the event – it’ll be a fun day out for all the family using one of the fantastic parks we’ve got in the St Helens borough.”
Meanwhile, a ‘Great Get Together’ event hosted by the Friends of Victoria Park in association with St Helens Rotary, will also take place in the park that day, with arts and crafts; musical performances from local bands and vocalists.
A Victoria sponge cake competition, bee keeper exhibition, cake decorating, storytelling with Princess Belle and a penalty shootout will be among the entertainment.
St Helens Autism and Asperger’s Society will also be promoting Grow, Sow, Eat – giving members of the public the opportunity to purchase cakes and plants.
St Helens Armed Forces Day will take place from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, June 22.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here