Beverley’s third Armed Forces Day will take place on Sunday 3 July, and already plans are well advanced.
Last year’s event was a fantastic occasion, building upon the success of the previous year and attracting thousands of people into the town centre for a true family day out.
New additions already confirmed for this year’s event – which will be held in Saturday Market – are the band of The Prince of Wales Division and a flight simulator, which will show what it is like to fly a Harrier or a Tornado.
Another change to the event has also been announced. Instead of being led by Beverley Town Council, chairman of the organising committee cllr David Elvidge has confirmed the event will instead be led by representatives of two of the country’s most respected forces charities.
They are Bernadette Grimes MBE, secretary of SSAFA Forces Help East Yorkshire, which celebrated its 125th anniversary last year, and Alan Higbee MBE, county chairman of East Yorkshire Royal British Legion. It is especially apt as the Legion celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.
Councillor Elvidge told HU17.net:
“I am proud to work alongside Bernadette and Alan in bringing to Beverley another enjoyable day for all the family.”
A meeting is being held on Thursday 24 March in the upstairs function room at the Rose and Crown for anyone wanting to volunteer to help with the event, from stewarding to helping with road closure and moving equipment.
Councillor Elvidge continued:
“For those unable to attend, or for those who may not be able to access the upstairs room but wish to take part, please contact me on 01482 870979 or email me at munchjess@munchjess.karoo.co.uk.”
A chance to join the big society?
Oh do explain!
Cameron said in a speech in London that the “big society” was “all about… giving people more power and control to improve their lives and communities.”
He said that while bringing down a record budget deficit through spending cuts was his “duty”, “what is my mission, what it is that I’m really passionate about, is actually social recovery as well as economic recovery”.
“I think we need a social recovery because there are too many parts of our society that are broken,” the prime minister said, pointing to crime, family breakdown and over-dependence on welfare.
David, before Cameron said what you’ve posted, a major opinion poll said 68% of people didn’t understand what the Big Society was.
AFTER Cameron explained what it was, 72% said they didn’t understand what the Big Society was!!!!
Basically, it’s a half-baked idea to get people to cover the cuts being made in Public Services, whilst pulling the funding from the very organisations and charities he wants to lead the Big Society!
The concept of a more cohesive community, where we’re all proactive citizens is wonderful (and has been happening for many years to some degree anyway), but the way in which it is being organised by slashing the infrastructure that will enable it to work is a world turned upside-down!
Badger this once great country cannot carry the burden it now shoulders for many reasons. I would therfore support any action that brings the community together for the greater good and which therfore enables the authorities to spend their meagre funds on essential things.
PS Badger are your figures from a reputable source? Private Eye or Morning Star?
PPS Badger I won’t post again on this item and I apologise for bringing politics into an area it does not belong. Armed Forces Day is and should always be above that.
The figures from the Today Programme and The Times.
I disagree a bit about Armed Forces Day being un-political… especially as our Armed Forces have helped to ensure we have freedom to discuss politics without being suppressed. They are deployed, thanked and celebrated by politicians from all parties. As such, there will always be an inextricable political link, for those both for and against the concept of the event.
But the idea of the Big Society will not work because our short-sighted Government is forcing the very infrastructure and organisations that will enable it to be a success to close down before they can even start working on it!
Those that get involved will do so more and more, stretching themselves too thinly, damaging great events like Armed Forces Day. I’m involved, as you are David , with various community events and projects, but the same people always seem to get involved and getting new faces volunteering is an uphill struggle… how long before some groups vanish, as those involved and predominantly older people doing increased volunteering and younger people are working all the hours given to secure their jobs in these precarious times…
…or as the old curse goes – we live in Interesting Times!
PS I wasn’t the one who brought up politics, but simply responded to Condem propoganda previously posted 😉