Dignitaries and Veterans Gather To Celebrate Armed Forces Day At The Guildhall

Published on: 24 Jun, 2013
Updated on: 27 Jun, 2013

The ceremony commenced at 10.30am sharp.

Armed Forces Day was celebrated in Guildford this morning. A flag was raised while a bugler played ‘reveille’ from the Guildhall balcony, in front of forces veterans, the Mayor and gathered civic dignitaries.

The balcony party including the bugler, Richard Straker, council CEO David Hill, The Mayor Cll Lockyer-Nibbs, Commanding Officer of the Training Regiment at Queen Elizabeth Barracks Pirbright and Bill Wallis, RAF veteran.

The balcony party including the bugler, Richard Straker, council CEO David Hill, The Mayor Cll Lockyer-Nibbs, Lt Col Dickie Head, Commanding Officer of the Training Regiment at Queen Elizabeth Barracks Pirbright, Bill Wallis, RAF Association and Superintendent Duncan Greenhalgh.

One of the councillors present, Zoe Franklin (Lib Dem, Stoke) said: “I think Armed Forces Day is important. We need to remember that men and women are still prepared to risk their lives for their country as former generations have done. Both my grandfather and great grandfather served in the forces and it means something to me.”

Dignitaries and guests gather in Tunsgate to watch the short ceremony.

Two Second World War veterans, husband and wife Bill and Anne Wallis, were among the former members present. They met when they were both serving at RAF Weeton, near Blackpool, in 1941. Bill was involved in technical training and Anne, after spending time as a nurse, trained air gunners to be wireless operators which, for some, was another part of their role.

Bill and Anne Wallis, Second World War veterans who met while serving in the RAF.

The local Queen’s Regiment was well represented with a contingent of former national servicemen and territorials. They regularly meet up and mentioned that the Princess of Wales’s Regiment, the new name of the regiment that emerged following amalgamation with The Hampshires, would soon be receiving the freedom of the Borough of Waverley to go with the freedom of the Borough of Guildford that they have previously granted.

The contigent of former Queensmen, proudly waring their regimental ties, look on.

The contingent of former Queensmen, proudly wearing their regimental ties, look on.

At 10.30am sharp the bugler, Richard Straker of Friary Guildford Brass Band, blew ‘reveille’ watched by the assembled throng who had gathered under the Tunsgate portico, opposite the Guildhall. Following the short ceremony a reception was held in the Guildhall.