Sunderland gets set to celebrate Armed Forces Weekend

An Armed Forces Day parade as it was staged in Sunderland last year. Picture: Tom Banks

Seaburn Recreation Ground will be the base for the celebrations, which will run from Friday, June 28, until Sunday, June 30, with food and drink available through the festival.

It will begin at 6.30pm on the Friday with a flag raising ceremony, with a 150-strong Rock Choir and the Bearpark and Esh Colliery Band to perform.

Saturday’s daytime programme will begin at 10am and run to 5pm, with the marquee to host entertainment including dancers, singers and martial artists, with a fairground to set up on the field.

An Armed Forces Day parade through Seaburn last June. Picture: Tom Banks

A reenactment team will attend and a World’s Strongest Man show planned.

The main feature of the day will be at 12.30pm, when a military march will be held.

The evening’s entertainment will start at 6.30pm and come to a close at 11pm, with The Little wigglers, The Dolls & MTA, The King & I lined up.

On Sunday, it will host a dog show, with a football tournament, Salvation Army band show and go karts to run alongside stalls, with entertainment in the marquee all day.

The presentation for the footballers will take place at 4.15pm.

Paul Japser, who spent 24 years in the Light Infantry, is among the team of organisers and said: “We want people to remember the contribution the Armed Forces because as tax payers we’re proud of them and hold them in high esteem.

“It also ties up with the 75th anniversary of D-Day and we want to have as much support as we can from the public and we want to send out that message that everyone is thinking of them.”

Murton’s own celebrations will take place this Saturday, June 22, from noon until 6pm at the Glebe Centre.

They will begin with a Drum Head Service, followed by a performance by the Silver Bugles in the main hall at 1.30pm, women vocalist Sharon at 2.30pm and a show by the Veterans Rock Band at 3.30pm.

Other Activities include a heritage display, face painting and balloons, stands and stalls, help from cadets and Scouts and Cubs, with food and a bar available.