Southport MP Damien Moore is leading calls for Southport to host the national Armed Forces Day celebrations in 2025.
Southport already hosts the largest Armed Forces Day celebrations in the North West, with thousands of visitors enjoying the event in the town centre on Sunday (25th June 2023).
The occasion included a military parade, a service, and a day full of events, live music, fairground rides, military vehicles, craft stalls and other attractions.
Mr Moore has now put the case in Parliament to Defence Minister Ben Wallace for Southport to host the Armed Forces Day National Event in 2025.
This is an annual event which serves as the focus for the UK’s celebration of its armed forces. Each year the Ministry of Defence invites applications from local authorities to host the event. Cornwall Council’s application was selected by the Ministry of Defence for the 2023 event.
It saw Falmouth welcome an estimated 100,000 visitors over the weekend, bringing between £5.5 million and £7 million into the local economy
The main event on Saturday saw more than 1,000 service personnel march through the town. Cornwall Council said it was the largest and longest military parade ever held in the county.
The parade was accompanied by fly-pasts from the Red Arrows, Navy Merlin helicopters and an Avenger, while the RAF Falcons performed a parachute drop over Pendennis Castle and Falmouth Bay with further air displays later in the afternoon by The Black Cats, Hurricanes, Spitfires, Lancasters, Typhoons, Chinooks and Merlins.
Speaking in Parliament, Southport MP Damien Moore said: “Nowhere does events as well as my Southport constituency.
“This weekend’s Armed Forces Day was truly testament to that fact, so would the Defence Minister welcome and support an application from Southport to host the national Armed Forces Day in 2025?”
Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace replied: “Of course I would welcome a bid from Southport; I will also welcome bids from all over the country, and I look forward to this becoming a growing competition to recognise the men and women of our armed forces.”
Speaking after the debate, Damien Moore said: “Our Armed Forces Day in Southport has grown from strength to strength and this year did not fail to impress, attracting more visitors from far and wide.
“We were able to celebrate our proud military veterans, together with those serving and of course our cadets.
“Armed Forces Day in Southport was put together by a fantastic group of volunteers including those from Southport Royal British Legion and SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.
“The service was led by Father Tom Carpenter and it was supported by a large civic contingent. “It was encouraging to see more stall holders who really added to the sense of occasion.
“I thank all of those who contributed to it.
“The greatest tribute would be to showcase this great eventing ability in a much bigger way.
“Our Armed Forces Day really did Southport proud and if we were given the opportunity to host the national event we would do our nation proud as well.
“This is why I’m supporting our bid to do this in 2025.”
Southport Royal British Legion Chair Major Nick McEntee, one of the organisers of Southport Armed Forces Day, said: “We were genuinely humbled by the incredible support that Armed Forces Day received from the local community.
“Our goal is to bring the national event to Southport in 2025, but that would require the support of the whole town.
“We would love to hear from any organisations or individuals that would like to offer their support and time, for not just next year, but the coming years. Anyone interested can reach out to southport.chairman@rbl.community.”
Thousands of people enjoyed this year’s Southport Armed Forces Day on Sunday (25th June 2023) with a full day of entertainment for families to enjoy.
Lord Street was closed to traffic and was lined with funfair rides and rows of historic military vehicles as the largest Armed Forces Day celebration in the North West took place.
The Atkinson, usually closed on Sundays, joined in Armed Forces Day for the first time, welcoming visitors to its informative Polish Heritage Flight Exhibition. Spitfire pilot Dave Harvey was on hand to chat to visitors.
Organisers of the Southport Armed Forces Day include Southport Royal British Legion; SSAFA the Armed Forces charity; and Sefton Council.
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