THE first national Armed Forces Day was celebrated today in Buckinghamshire and proved a big hit with the service men and women honoured at an invitation-only event hosted by the county council.
Around 3,500 service personnel, their families, veterans and cadets were estimated to attend the occasion, hosted by the county council at Sir William and Lady McAlpine’s estate in Fawley Hill, near Henley.
And the effort made to stage the day proved popular with many of those attending.
Wing Commander Richard Morin, based at RAF Halton, said: “I’m incredibly flattered to be honoured in this way. Speaking to most of our guys from Halton, they have been blown away.”
He was also quick to praise the efforts of Lady McAlpine, who was a key figure in organising the event. He said: “There are a lot of guys here who have been in Iraq or Afghanistan over the last two or three years and they have a reward for their families. Lady McAlpine’s vision for making it a family day was spot on.
“If she was in the air force she’d be an Air Marshall.”
Captain Craig Turner of the 7 Rifles, a Holmer Green resident, said: “It’s been absolutely fantastic. It’s been very enjoyable and I appreciate the effort of the community.”
Throughout the day, designed to celebrate both serving members of the British forces and veterans, were musical performances, steam train rides, vintage car displays, hot air balloon rides, funfair rides and a host of other attractions.
And the crowds were dazzled with impressive aerial displays featuring six Tiger Moth aeroplanes, a Hurricane and a Spitfire.
While the sun shone for most of the day, a torrential downpour this afternoon threatened to put a dampener on the event.
Fortunately the rain clouds made themselves scarce for the flag lowering ceremony, which rounded off the day.
And to end proceedings with a musical bang were Jon Lord, of Deep Purple, and some friends assembled especially for the occasion including Mickey Moody, formerly of Whitesnake and 60s rock star Joe Brown.
Captain Andy Brogden, a resident of Marlow, was representing the 7 Rifles which serves Bucks, Berks, Oxfordshire and London. He said: “Some people have said ‘why weren’t there parades’ and things but that sort of defeats the object, if you have got to work on a day where you should be appreciated.”
Lady McAlpine, praised the generosity of all those who contributed to the event free of charge, and though people had been touched by the cause.
She said. “An awful lot of people have given so much today.
“I have been running events like this since I was 15.
“But this has been more emotive than anything else I have done. Immediately people said ‘what can I do?’ People feel so strongly about the troops and how badly they’ve been treated, the wanted to give them a good day. They must understand how everybody is on their side.”
Chairman of the county council, Cllr Richard Pushman said: “It’s fantastic. I think it has come together extremely well. I’m delighted so many are enjoying it and there’s a lot of personnel here today.
“I think Bucks has really done well. They have put their hand in their pocket and pulled out all the stops, to mix a metaphor.”
