Crowds gathered in High Wycombe to pay tribute to the British armed forces ahead of Armed Forces Day on Saturday.

The chair of Wycombe District Council, cllr Mahboob Hussain, joined members of the High Wycombe RAF, Royal British Legion, war veterans, members of the public and other councillors yesterday (Monday).

The event was organised to “celebrate and recognise” the work of the men and women who serve our country outside the Wycombe District Council offices in Queen Victoria Road.

The event started with a minute’s silence for murdered MP Jo Cox.

In his speech, cllr Hussain paid tribute to the armed forces, praising their “loyalty, courage and duty to our nation”.

He said: “One of our duties to our Armed Forces is to recognise and support the military covenant, which is the mutual obligation between the nation, the armed services and each individual soldier, sailor and airman; an unbreakable common bond of identity, loyalty and responsibility which has sustained the services throughout their history.

“In putting the needs of the nation and the armed forces before their own, they forego some of the rights enjoyed by those outside the armed forces.

“Without your commitment, and those of your predecessors, our nation would not have survived through the thickest of wars and greatest of crises.

“I salute you.”

High Wycombe RAF station commander, group captain Phil Lester said the occasion was important in recognising the relationship between the military and the nation.

He said: “As military people, we are here to do what the company requires of us and when it requires it.

“Today is important because it’s an opportunity for the local community to say thank you, to show the bond that exists between the national and its serviceman, and an opportunity for us to be here with the local authorities to show that ultimately we’re one community trying to do the same thing all of the time.”

He also spoke about the RAF’s “very close” relationship with the communities in High Wycombe, Marlow, Princes Risborough and the surrounding areas, saying he wanted to “continue to engage”.

He added: “It is great for us to be here to show our commitment to the local community and also to continue to engage and build that very positive relationship, and to make sure in this area the covenant that exists between the civilian and military community is as strong as it possibly can be.”

For more information about Armed Forces Day, go to www.armedforcesday.org.uk.