Borough to mark 2023 Armed Forces Week

By Connor Steel

GOSPORT BOROUGH COUNCIL have announced that they will marking Armed Forces Week with a special community information event on Monday, June 19; which is due to be held alongside a flag-raising ceremony in the Falkland Gardens as local organisations look to celebrate and support personnel from across the area.

Councillors have organised the information event in partnerships with the Gosport Armed Forces Community Hub to bring a range of organisations together in the High Street. It is scheduled to run from 9:30am-2:30pm with groups including FirstLight Trust, Veterans Outreach Service and Gosport Voluntary Action set to attend.

It has further been confirmed that Alabaré, Forces Employment Charity, and SSAFA will also be at this event as they look to raise crucial awareness of the support available. This event is free for everyone to attend and parking should be available across local car parks, whilst public transport links are due to run normally for all.

This market-style information event will be joined by a flag-raising ceremony, which is due to take place from 10am in the Falkland Gardens. A number of guests are expected to attend including Gosport’s Mayor Martin Pepper, Surgeon Cpt Christopher Streets (Institute of Naval Medicine) and the HMS Sultan executive officer.

Visitors are welcomed to attend both events throughout the day to show their appreciations for Armed Forces personnel and find out any information. A variety of other activities have been scheduled in Gosport between June 19 and June 25 with a list of details available to examine via this local council’s designated website link.

Local organisations can add their own Armed Forces Week events and activities on the council’s webpage or notice-board by contacting GosportAFD@gosport.gov.uk as soon as possible. Comments from Mayor Martin Pepper can be viewed via https://www.gosport.gov.uk/article/2519/Gosport-salutes-armed-forces-community.

PICTURED BY CONNOR STEEL: A quiet image from Falkland Gardens on morning of June 15 (Thursday).