Here we are at Guildhall today for the flagraising ceremony to start the week leading up to Armed Forces Day on Saturday 26th June. In the left hand picture you have the Chairman of our Regimental Liaison and Cadets Committee, Steven Rowe, flanked by Lieutenant Vivian Echeverry, leading four cadets from St Dunstan's College Combined Cadet Force, and Regimental Sergeant Major Scott Younger from 151 (London) Transport Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps (Volunteers). The CCF cadets themselves, who were a credit to their unit, are pictured on the right.
The ceremony was attended by the full Civic Party of the Lord Mayor, both Sheriffs and their ladies, a number of Aldermen and Common Councilmen, representatives from the armed forces, reserves and cadets and their civilian supporters. The sun beamed down on us as prayers were said and the flag raised over Guildhall. (I think I saw the Reverend Dr Bill Beaver wearing spurs under his clerical robes - he has a military history so it's possible.)
In his speech, the Lord Mayor made the point that we have had such a long period of peace in the UK that most people now do not have direct experience of military, naval or air force service. For this reason we need to pay attention to the relationship between the services and civilians and events like this week's help that purpose. We were given a short talk on UK armed forces current operations by Lt Cdr Andy Ingham RN which gave a good overview of our extensive commitments overseas in Afghanistan, the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, UN support and counter-piracy activities.
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