THE first South Gloucestershire Armed Forces Day since before the pandemic was held at Page Park in June.
The event is a celebration of the work of Armed Forces personnel past and present, service families, reservists and cadets. It was last held in Kingswood in 2019.
A first attempt to resurrect the event last year was cancelled due to a lack of funds and volunteers, but this year’s event went ahead in Page Park on June 22, a week before the national Armed Forces Day event.
It included stalls from the Royal British Legion, RNLI and Avon & Somerset volunteer police cadets, along with traders
The event was hit by some glitches, with a drumhead service having to be cancelled, along with a planned appearance by some military vehicles.
One exhibitor who did make it was military hardware collector David Perry, who brought a replica Second World War 37mm American anti-tank gun which visitors were able to see at close quarters.
David made the replica himself and towed it on the back of his car up the motorway from Weston-super-Mare.
He said: “It does everything except fire!”
Afterwards South Gloucestershire Armed Forces Day chair Ian Campbell said: “I want to say a massive thank you to all of the volunteers that helped bring Armed Forces Day back to South Gloucestershire following several years of cancellations.”
Mr Campbell thanked the event committee, Friends of Page Park, South Gloucestershire Council and John Moloney of Stoke Gifford who took over when he was mobilised with the RAF, adding: “Without him stepping forward, the event would have been difficult.”
People are invited to give feedback at the event’s website, www.southglosafd.com, to help plan for next year.