Armed Forces Day in park cancelled

A CELEBRATION of the work of the Armed Forces planned for Page Park has been cancelled.

The Armed Forces Day event was due to be staged on June 17, a return to South Gloucestershire for the first time since 2019.

It would have been the first time the event had come to Staple Hill, having been held in Kingswood before the pandemic.

However, it has now been cancelled due to a lack of funds and help.

Armed Forces Day is an annual national event to give people the opportunity to show their support for current serving troops, service families, reservists, veterans and cadets.

Entertainment and stalls were planned for the Page Park celebration.

However the organising committee issued a statement in April, which said: “The committee have been working hard with external partners, but it has become clear that with the lack of funding for the event and the realisation that more people are needed, we cannot go ahead for 2023.

“This is a huge blow to us on the committee and to those that have been working hard to get this event back off the ground.

“We will continue to mark the day this year and hope to work with South Gloucestershire Council for the annual flag raising ceremony in Yate.

“We are already working towards 2024 and several grants have been applied for to meet the increased costs of services required to make the event successful, safe and fun.”

The committee called on people to support other events happening at the same time, including Party in the Ponds, which is also set for June 17, and the Mangotsfield Festival.

The organisers are calling on volunteers who can help run  an event on June 15 next year to email southglosafd@gmail.com.

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