UPDATE! UPDATE!

PRESS RELEASE – MAY 2010

 

 

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, COUNTY OF DORSET

 

NATIONAL VETERANS & ARMED FORCES DAY

TRI-SERVICE PARADE & COMMEMORATION SERVICE

 

SHERBORNE ABBEY, DORSET

SUNDAY 27TH JUNE 2010 3PM

 

The above event is to commemorate and to celebrate National Armed Forces Day.  It will take the form of a parade commencing at The Green, at the top of Cheap Street, Sherborne.  Those participating in the parade will muster at The Green from 1.30pm and the first band will step off at 2.20pm.

 

DORSET SALUTES OUR SERVICEMEN & WOMEN

 

THE PARADE

 

The County of Dorset Royal British Legion are organising the above event and wish to thank the Mayor and Town Council of Sherborne for their generous help and

co-operation with this large undertaking.

 

There will be four bands taking part:- HMS Heron Royal Navy Volunteer Band from Yeovilton; The Light Cavalry Band from Bovington; The Sherborne Town Band and the East Dorset Youth Marching Band.  The Dorset County Standard accompanied by the massed Branch Standards of  The Royal British Legion; the Devon and Dorset Regiment Association Standards and probably other Standards will follow immediately behind the leading Band. Marching contingents will be provided by: Dorset County members of The Royal British Legion; The Devonshire & Dorset Regiment Association; currently serving Officers and Soldiers from Blandford Garrison (including a number of Gurkhas); currently serving Officers & Naval Ratings from RNAS Yeovilton.  Our three National Cadet organisations will be represented: Army Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps and Air Training Corps, all drawn from the County of Dorset.  A total of around 500 people taking part. 

 

 

It is the aim of The RBL Dorset to bring the County together for this significant occasion.  Therefore, all the Town Mayors, County and District Council Chief Representatives and their escorts have been invited and will take part in the parade.  The majority have accepted and will form their own ‘Dorset Civic Pride’ contingent led by The Mayor and Mayoress of Sherborne.  A group of serving and retired senior military officers alongside distinguished civic leaders will have their own stately walking contingent.

 

The RBL have paid tribute to Dorset’s historical past by inviting a military

re-enactment group, the colourful Wimborne Militia, who will appropriately bring up the rear of the parade.  The entire parade will be under the direction of RBL Dorset Senior Parade Marshal Mr Spencer Hare. 

 

HM Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers and RBL Dorset County President, Maj Gen RC Keightley,CB will take the salute on Half Moon Street outside the Abbey. 

 

THE COMMEMORATION SERVICE.

 

The Commemoration Service, in Sherborne Abbey, will immediately follow the parade and commence at 3pm.  The Service is to be one of reflection and act as reminder of our duty to the Country.  Incorporated into the Service, HM Lord Lieutenant will, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, present a number of recipients with THE ELIZABETH CROSS. The Cross, inaugurated in 2009 by HM The Queen, is intended to bestow honour and national recognition on the families of Armed Forces personnel who have died on operations or as an act of terrorism.  Canon Eric Woods of Sherborne Abbey will conduct the Service and give the address.  The Rev’d Peter Greenwood of St Mary’s, Gillingham will lead the prayers and Choral Music will be provided by The Sherborne Chamber Choir led by their Director of Music, Paul Ellis.  A non-biblical reading will be delivered by the Dorset based actress, Miss April Walker.  

 

This is not an RBL fund raising event.  However, there will be a retiring collection which The RBL intends to donate to Sherborne Abbey funds.

 

As you will perceive the above is to be a major event.  PLEASE, therefore, I BEG you, as a public media service, to offer a generous amount of publicity for this IMPORTANT and major event. 

 

I thank you, on behalf of THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, DORSET, in anticipation of your kind co-operation.

 

Jack Skelton-Wallace FRGS, FCollP                       

RBL, Dorset County Organiser and Co-ordinator of the event.

Tel. 01747 825388                       email: johnappin@aol.com       

 

DORSET ROYAL BRITISH LEGION – THE BEST