Shropshire Council marks Armed Forces Day as four more businesses pledge their support

Shropshire Council proudly raised the Armed Forces Day flag outside its Shirehall, Shrewsbury headquarters earlier this week (Monday 24 June 2019) in support of national Armed Forces Day which takes place on Saturday 29 June 2019.

The flag was raised in the morning by Karen Calder, Armed Forces Covenant Chair, in front of an invited audience of military personnel and representatives from Shropshire Council.

The flag-raising – Armed Forces Day 2019

Shortly afterwards, three businesses and a charity including Headwise, Headway, CLCA Nursing and Samaritans Shrewsbury pledged their support to Armed Forces personnel, reservists and veterans by signing the Armed Forces Covenant.

The council will be producing an electronic booklet which highlights all the pledges and offers made by Shropshire-based businesses. So far, 45 Shropshire businesses have signed the covenant but the council is always keen to hear from other businesses who would like to pledge their support.

Over the next week, many council services will be showing their support, including:

• Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery – the museum will be displaying their Wilfred Owen display boards in the museum entrance, and they’ll also be making a Shropshire yeomanry helmet their object of the month.
• Shrewsbury Library – the library will have a range of books on the Armed Forces on display in the foyer over the weekend.
• Shrewsbury Castle – the castle will be open for free to military personnel, veterans and their families on Armed Forces Day.
• Leisure centres – there will be free access to military personnel and their immediate family at Shrewsbury Sports Village, Quarry Swimming Centre (Shrewsbury), Whitchurch Swimming Centre, Market Drayton Swimming Centre, Oswestry Leisure Centre, Meole Brace Golf Course (Shrewsbury), Roman Road Sports Centre (Shrewsbury), Idsall Sports Centre, Much Wenlock Leisure Centre, Cleobury Sports Centre, Ludlow Leisure Centre, SpArC Leisure Centre (Bishop’s Castle), Church Stretton Leisure Centre and the Shropshire Regimental Museum (Shrewsbury) over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday).

Armed Forces Day – June 2019

The council is also encouraging businesses in Shrewsbury to decorate their windows with a military theme for a chance to win a tour of RAF Shawbury for up to 12 staff members.

Sean McCarthy, Shropshire Council’s Armed Forces Covenant Officer, said:

“Armed Forces Day is a fantastic opportunity for communities to come together and thank our forces personnel for the jobs they undertake on behalf of the country and in defence of the realm.

“It’s great that new businesses are eager to pledge their support, showing that we’re all committed to recognising, valuing and supporting their amazing contribution.”

Further information

Flag raising

The flag raising event was attended by Lord Lieutenant Anna Turner, Shropshire Council’s chief executive Clive Wright, Shropshire Council’s Leader Peter Nutting, Armed Forces Covenant Chair Karen Calder, Group Captain Chris Mullen of RAF Shawbury, Wing Commander Tim Mason of RAF Cosford, Major Gordon Kaye 8 Riffles, Commander Mark Scott 2 Maritime Air Wing, Shropshire Council’s Armed Forces veterans hub Co-ordinator Sarah Kerr, and Armed Forces covenant officer Sean McCarthy.

Pledging their support as part of the Armed Forces Covenant

• Headwise, signed by Andrew Worthington.
• Headway, signed by Debbie Wilcox.
• CLCA Nursing, signed by Cherry Adams.
• Samaritans of Shrewsbury, signed by Helen McGuinness.

For further information people should contact sean.mccarthy@shropshire.gov.uk