Dacorum Prepares to Celebrate Armed Forces Day

Living Magazines Armed Forces Day

Armed Forces Day is an opportunity for Dacorum Borough Council and its residents to show gratitude and appreciation for the men and women who make up the armed forces community, from current serving troops to service families, veterans and cadets.

This year, the council are again unable to host a large event in Gadebridge Park, however in the build up to Armed Forces Day on Saturday 26 June 2021, there will be a series of local events they are supporting to recognise the armed forces community.

Dacorum Hertiage Trust in partnership with Dacorum Borough Council, will be installing a series of banners on the railings of the splash park in Gadebridge Park this week, showcasing the borough’s involvement in past wars. The banners have QR codes which when scanned by a mobile phone allow visitors to delve further into wartime history and the stories of local men, women and children. They will also link you through to activity packs for children. The banners will be up until 28 June and will also be available to view online.

An official flag raising will be taking place on Monday 21 June at The Forum in Hemel Hempstead to mark the start of Armed Forces Week, which will be shown live on Facebook.

With Dacorum Borough Council’s support Tring Book Festival will be marking Armed Forces Week with two authors of national significance – Michael Morpurgo, former Children’s Laureate and author of War Horse, and former RAF Officer John Nichol. The Council has supplied copies of Farm Boy, Michael Morpurgo’s new book to three local schools and he will be talking about this and other books such as War Horse and answering children’s questions on Tuesday 22 June.

In addition former RAF Officer John Nichol will be online on Wednesday 23 June at 7pm, talking and answering questions about his new book Tornado – In the Eye of the Storm. Tickets and a signed copy of this book are available through the Tring book festival website www.tringbookfestival.co.uk/whats-on.

Other events include

  • Groups that help the armed forces community in Dacorum will talk about what they do and how they can help and answer questions on the Supporting the Armed Forces Community Webinar. This will include representatives from the Healthy Hub, the Royal British Legion, Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Clubs and Help for Heroes.
  • Grants have been given to community groups for activities which will include a concert in the memorial gardens in Tring on Armed Forces Day and an online fitness session with Viking Fitness.
  • Podcasts are being created with ex-forces personnel from Dacorum, with the support of the University of Hertfordshire which will be available to the Dacorum Armed Forces Day page.
  • Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted and Tring Libraries will be putting on Armed Forces displays.

Cllr Julie Banks, Portfolio Holder for Community and Regulatory Services, said: ‘It is unfortunate that we have had to keep many Armed Forces Day events online again this year but we have been able to work with our community groups to put on a fantastic programme of events throughout June that celebrate our armed forces personnel. These events aim to bring the community together in commemoration of those that are, or have been, involved with the Armed Forces and to share their stories.’

For more information on the Armed Forces Day events, visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/armedforcesday2021.