Gloucester Armed Forces Day

After 6 months in the planning our Armed Forces Day took off in terrific style at 12:30 with a major Military parade from Gloucester Cathedral, up Westgate Street, right into Southgate Street and down to the Docks entrance where the venue was Back Badge Square at the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum. Back Badge Square is named after the Gloucester Regiment who wear two cap badges, one at the front and one at the back to commemorate their gallantry at the battle at Alexandria when the regiment fought back to back on 21 March 1801.

It was a fabulous day with the Band of HM Royal Marines leading the parade and also playing for about 3/4 of an hour in the sweltering heat wearing their number 1 uniforms. There was also a male voice choir, a rock band later, lots of stands of military organisations and associations, cadet forces of Air, Army and Navy, Help for Heroes, SSAFA and many more. An armoured vehicle arrived on a low loader at 09:30 and another large Army vehicle on display. A spitfire cockpit that people could sit in and an amazing flypast by a BBMF Spitfire - 3 times! When he did the first flypast I thought he would depart for the Jet Age Museum but he didn't, he banked around and came back again, and then yet again.

The photos are:
Top - The Royal British Legion Riders Branch, a very good turnout for us.
Bottom left - a small part of the 45 strong R.M. band
Bottom Centre - the Spitfire flypast, sent to me by Neil Borrows as I didn't manage to get a photo of it.
Bottom Right - My bike, well I had to didn't I.

Must admit I took some ribbing for buying a Harley Davidson, comments such as 'Where's your Massey Ferguson T Shirt' and 'How often have you had to stop and pick up the bits that fall off', I'm sure they are all just jealous!