Flag raising ceremony on Vine heralds start of Armed Forces Day celebrations and charity fair

SEVENOAKS Air Cadets will raise a flag on The Vine tomorrow (Saturday 29 June) as part of the commemorations for Armed Forces Day.

Members of the public are invited to join the Mayor of Sevenoaks, Cllr Nick Busvine OBE, Town Councillors and representatives from the British Legion for an informal service at 10am by the Flagpole.

This will be followed by Armed Forces Day events throughout the day including music until 4pm on the Bandstand from Jean Bentley-Picton, Dance Works, Make Believe, Kent Police Band, D’Vine Singers and Rock Choir.

There will also be entertainment in the form of Punch and Judy performances, dance classes and much more from the air cadets.

Running alongside the Armed Forces Day events on The Vine will be the Sevenoaks Charity Fair 2019 when local organisations, including CAB, Mencap, Guide Dogs for the Blind and many more, will be able to raise their profile

Armed Forces Day commemorations have already been held earlier this week when local veterans and sea and air cadets were amongst the guests who celebrated at Sevenoaks District Council’s offices on Monday 24 June 2019.

Cadets Hattie (Westerham Sea Cadets) and Monika (Sevenoaks Air Cadets) prepare to raise the Armed Forces Day flag.

Hattie from Westerham Sea Cadets joined forces with Monika from Sevenoaks Air Cadets to raise the Armed Forces Day flag in a show of support for the military.

Other guests included Lord Sackville (representing the Lord Lieutenant of Kent), veterans from the Sevenoaks Royal Navy Association and the Chairman of Edenbridge Town Council Alan Layland.

Sevenoaks District Council Chairman, Cllr John Edwards-Winser, said: “Armed Forces Day gives us all the chance to show our appreciation to the men and women who have protected this country. This year is especially important as we honour the brave young men who took part in the D-Day landings and the Normandy campaign 75 years ago.”

The flag raising was the start of this year’s Armed Forces Day that takes place on Saturday 29 June 2019.

For more information on Saturday’s events go to the Sevenoaks Town Council website at: www.sevenoakstown.gov.uk