Flag at Cathedral Marks Start of Armed Forces Week

Published on: 22 Jun, 2020
Updated on: 24 Jun, 2020

Guildford Cathedral held a flag-raising today to mark Armed Forces Week

The flag was raised today (June 22) outside Guildford Cathedral to mark the start of Armed Forces Week.

Michael More-Molyneux, Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, raised the flag with the Very Reverend Dianna Gwilliams, Dean of Guildford.

They were joined by Shahid Azeem DL, High Sheriff of Surrey, Anthony Samuels, chairman of Surrey County Council, Colonel John Baynham, deputy commander of 11 Infantry Brigade South East and Steve Owen-Hughes, Chief Fire Officer and Veteran.

Sadly, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of events across the county to celebrate Armed Forces Week have had to be cancelled.

One minute silence was observed

Mr More-Molyneux said: “Armed Forces Day is a chance for us all to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community, from serving troops to Service families, ex-Service personnel and veterans and cadets.

“Surrey is considered very much by the MoD as a ‘military friendly’ county and as Lord-Lieutenant, I am very proud of that reputation. Having seen at first hand, our local forces supporting the NHS in the fight against COVID-19, I am very pleased to give a very public ‘thank you’ to them all today for a job really well done.”

Surrey has four Army bases with 6,200 Service personnel and their families as well as 1,274 Service children, four Reserve Centres with more than 200 Reservists and nearly 2,750 Tri-Service Cadets. The county is also home to 42,000 ex-Service personnel and veterans.

The Dean expressed her delight at helping host this celebratory event outside the Cathedral. “It is always a great pleasure to host military events here at Guildford Cathedral. We have held many memorable events in partnership with the military.”
Surrey County Council is celebrating Armed Forces Week by asking residents to post photographs of them and their loved ones who have served our country to their Facebook and Twitter.

Strict social distancing practice was adopted during the ceremony, in line with government guidelines on working safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.