Veterans mark Armed Forces Day (From Craven Herald)

Veterans mark Armed Forces Day

12:54pm Thursday 23rd June 2011 in News

A soggy start did not spoil Skipton’s early celebration of Armed Forces Day on Sunday.

The omens were not good for organiser Wayne Smith and his team as they started setting up for the event in heavy rain at 7.30am.

Conditions were even worse at 10am when veterans lined up to hear an address by retired Army Colonel Anthony Phillips. And a balloon launch by pupils of Water Street Primary School did not go to plan.

“For some reason, the balloons didn’t rise in the air,” said co-organiser Barry Blood, vice-president of the Royal British Legion Skipton branch.

Col Phillips presented Royal British Legion awards to members, including a special award to Silsden’s Herbert Chandler (Royal Navy), who received an Atlantic Star badge for his service on the Arctic convoy ship HMS Norfolk.

Veteran’s badges went to John Kirwen-Davey and Robert Chapman (RAF) and David Ellis and David Reilly (Army), while a certificate of appreciation was presented to Carol Kitson for her services as standard bearer and secretary of the women’s section.

A certificate of appreciation was awarded to Craven Court Shopping Centre manager Emma Marsden for allowing the legion to use premises for its Poppy Appeal.

In the High Street arena, there were displays by Haworth Home Guard and Sealed Knot and performances by the Air Training Corps Band, the Royal British Legion Band and Scottish piper Ken Pickles and his drum accompaniment Ian Brown.

The afternoon parade was led by the Royal British Legion Band and parade marshal Alex Bentley, who is also chairman of Skipton Royal British Legion. Commodore Paul Sutermeister took the salute.

Afterwards Commodore Sutermeister presented the veteran’s flag to Jim Robson, a long-serving member of the legion.