Residents are invited to come together for a free, patriotic celebration for Armed Forces Day later this month.
Medway’s 14th Armed Forces Day celebration will take place on Saturday, 24 June, at the Great Lines Heritage Park, Gillingham, from 11am to 5pm.
There will be something for everyone to enjoy, including a military parade, bandstand concerts, helicopters on display, arena displays, a climbing tower with the Kent Army Cadets and much more. Food and drink stalls will also be available throughout the day.
We, along with sponsors BAE Systems, are encouraging residents to turn out and show their support for military personnel and take part in the variety of activities, whilst learning about the importance of our armed forces.
Among the armed forces units taking part will be the Royal School of Military Engineering, based in Brompton Barracks, with a military trades display and a children’s obstacle course. 579 Field Squadron Royal Engineers, based at Fort Clarence Rochester, will be demonstrating one of the Royal Engineers’ specialist tasks of Bomb Disposal and the 3rd Battalion of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment will be showcasing infantry equipment.
There will be displays detailing Medway’s long involvement with the armed forces from The Historic Dockyard, Fort Amherst, the Royal Engineers Museum and the 42nd Highlanders Living History Group.
A fun fair will also run over the whole weekend at the Great Lines Heritage Park, from Friday, 23 June to Sunday, 25 June. On the Friday, all of the fun fair activities will be half price between 4pm and 9pm.
Amazing family-friendly entertainment
Cllr Harinder Mahil, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Arts, Culture and Leisure, said: “I am pleased that we are once again celebrating Armed Forces Day in Medway. This year’s celebrations are sure to be great fun for all with the amazing family-friendly entertainment on offer. It is fantastic that we have ensured our celebrations include things for people of all ages to take part in, especially our younger residents – which supports our ambition to make Medway even more child-friendly.”
Strong military history
Cllr Alex Paterson, Medway Council’s Armed Forces Champion, said: “Medway has a strong military history and connection with our armed forces, and I think it is incredibly important that we all show our support for the whole of the Armed Forces community. We proudly hold the gold award for the Armed Forces Covenant in recognition of the support offered to the Armed Forces community, and we will continue to work closely with local military units to ensure that the challenges faced by the Armed Forces are tackled appropriately.”
Honour to support this celebration
Chris Chambers, Technician at BAE Systems at Rochester, and an RAF Veteran, said: “Our Armed Forces dedicate countless hours to protecting us every single day. It’s an honour to support this celebration and bring together thousands of people to show their appreciation for everyone within the Armed Forces community.”
A free Park & Ride service will be running between the Lloyds of London car park at Chatham Maritime and the Great Lines Heritage Park. The service will start at 10.15am and will run every 15 minutes, with the last bus leaving the Great Lines Heritage Park at 5.15pm.
For blue badge holders, there will be additional parking on Brompton Road, Gillingham. These spaces will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Travel by bus in Medway will be free on 24 June and 25 June as part of the Visit Kent Big Weekend 2023. There are regular bus services throughout Medway which call at the Gillingham Brompton Road and Medway Park bus stops.
The Great Lines Heritage Park is also within walking distance from Gillingham train station.
Medway will also celebrate its proud military history on Sunday, 25 June where The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (PWRR) will parade in Rochester High Street to celebrate them being holders of the Freedom of Medway. More information about the parade will be made available on VisitMedway.org.
To find out more about Medway’s Armed Forces Day celebrations and travel information, visit: VisitMedway.org/ArmedForcesDay.