Tributes to Armed Forces in South Tyneside this Sunday

South Tyneside is set to show its support for military organisations this Sunday (18 June) as the Borough celebrates the Armed Forces community.

The special Armed Forces Day event, organised by the Bad-Landers Motorcycle Club in partnership with South Tyneside Council, will feature a colourful military parade along South Shields seafront, followed by an action-packed family fun day in Bents Park.

It will begin with a cavalcade of around 500 motorbikes and scooters as they ride along the seafront leaving from Sunderland to Bents Park at 9.45am.

They will be followed at around 10.20am by a military parade with pipes and drums from Gypsies Green to Bents Park, where an inspection of the troops will take place and an open-air church service.

The service, led by Father Mark Mawhinney of St Hilda's Church, will include prayers, a two-minute silence, renditions of the Last Post and Reveille and the national anthem.

This will be followed by a day of family fun in Bents Park featuring live music, children's fairground rides, charity stalls, a tombola and refreshments. Other attractions on the day include an exhibition of motorbikes, scooters, classic cars and military vehicles.

The Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor John McCabe will be inspecting the troops. He said: "Armed Forces Day is a wonderful opportunity for us all to support and celebrate our amazing servicemen and women and the wider Armed Forces community. It gives us a chance to show our huge appreciation for their dedication to service and the huge sacrifices they make for us all to protect the UK and her interests at home and abroad.

"Our local event has grown to become one of the most popular and poignant events in our annual calendar and we are delighted to see it returning again this year.

"It will be an incredible honour to represent the Borough at the event and it will be a very proud moment for me to take the salute. We are looking forward to seeing the whole community coming together and supporting our services personnel. It is always a great day out for people of all ages."

The annual event celebrates all things military, from servicemen and women past and present to their families, veterans and cadets.

The event is open to the public until 5pm. A charity donation of £3 per person is requested from those attending, who will receive a commemorative wristband. Entry is free for children under 14 accompanied by an adult. All profits go to various Armed Forces charities.

Stuart Rogerson, Chairman of the Bad-Landers Motorcycle Club, said: "Armed Forces Day is a fantastic family day out and we're looking forward to seeing South Tyneside turn out to support once again.

"With everything from a formal inspection of the troops to street entertainers, displays and live music, it is sure to be a great tribute to our armed forces community.

"We always get amazing support from the North East biking community and the money raised on the day goes a long way to supporting military charities. But it's about much more than that. It's about remembering and acknowledging that our armed forces risk their lives to keep us safe.  Let us all show our appreciation this Armed Forces Day."

Councillor Paul Dean, Chairman of the South Tyneside Armed Forces Forum, added: "This event is a fitting tribute to our brave servicemen and women and is the perfect opportunity for people to come together and show their support for our military personnel.

"As well as celebrating all things military, it gives us all a chance to reflect on the huge sacrifices made by the armed forces community whose work is so vital in the defence of our country and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"Those who attend will not only have a great time but will be supporting a really worthwhile cause."

A temporary road closure will be in place along Sea Road from around 9.30am to 11.30am to allow armed forces organisations to parade along to Bents Park. Signs will be in place along the route.

For further information about South Tyneside Council's support for Armed Forces visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/armedforces