A MAJOR West Cumbrian event to celebrate Armed Forces personnel event across the area will return to Workington for its 15th year, as the organisers of the event encourage all former and current armed forces personnel to get involved in the event.

Armed Forces Day will return to Workington on June 29 with the parade leaving Pow Street from 11 am, travelling through Finkle Street and down to Vulcans Lane into the park, with roads closed in the town to allow the parade through.

There is then a service for people to attend before celebrations in The Workington Royal British Legion throughout the afternoon.

Speaking about the event, organiser Lesley Jackson said: “It’s fifteen years since we started and hopefully it is getting bigger and better as the years go by.

“But what we would like to try and outreach to is veterans. Our older veterans are unfortunately getting much older now, but what we would really like is for younger people who have been in the forces who have maybe left to take part in it as well, it is for them as well as the serving personnel, as well as the cadets and the older veterans.

“Veterans of all ages, no matter how long they have served - we would like them to take part and come onboard. If they don’t want to parade that’s fine, but there are celebrations in the club. We would like people to come in, meet new friends, that is what we have done over 15 years. Our friendship between lots of different people is beyond belief.”

Tony Jackson, who served in the Border Regiment and the Royal Green Jackets is now the chairman of the Duke of Lancaster Association West Cumberland branch.

He said: “It’s important to put on a show piece to celebrate the armed forces past, present and future, and it’s important to provide a venue where people can interact and talk to other armed forces personnel, talk about contributions they have made to society as a whole.

“I feel very proud being on parade, I really do. I parade at least twice a year and we revel in it. We love to see the public lining the streets and applauding, and it’s even better when it’s behind a band.”

People come to the event from all over the county, with many cadets being brought from Whitehaven, as well as veterans travelling from as far as Barrow and Millom to the annual celebration.

Armed Forces Day relies on fundraising events, predominantly in Workington, to raise the money needed to carry out the event.

Thanks have been given to the main sponsor The Decommissioning Agency as well as the many other organisations and people who contribute to the event.