With just days to go until Armed Forces Day 2011 the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency have released a podcast looking forward to the event which is this year being hosted by Edinburgh

The Agency’s latest podcast provides an update on the events planned across the UK to celebrate the day and contains interviews with Air Vice-Marshal David Murray, the MOD’s lead on the events and Edinburgh Council Leader Jenny Dawe on what the city is preparing for the national event.

Air Vice-Marshal David Murray said: “At last year’s national event I remember one young Serviceman saying the cheers of the crowds made him feel like a ‘rock star for the day’. I hope this will be the case for our Servicemen and women this year, at the many events planned right across the UK. Armed Forces Day is a wonderful opportunity for people to show their support for our Armed Forces family, and is a day we can all be rightly proud of.”

Council Leader Jenny Dawe said: "Hosting an event on this scale is something for which Edinburgh has become internationally revered – indeed, the city has won a reputation as one of the top events destinations in the world thanks to the success of such major occasions as the visit by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010 and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.

"Ever since I attended the Armed Forces Day national event in Cardiff last year, I have been looking forward to bringing the celebrations to Scotland’s capital, where I know we will put on a sensational three days of activities and entertainment for everyone to get involved with."

David Johnson, SPVA Spokesman said: “As one of the MOD’s main providers of support services to the Armed Forces and veterans communities, SPVA is supporting Armed Forces Day by providing display stands, posters and information leaflets at many events around the country.Veterans Welfare Service advisors will be on hand at the national event in Edinburgh as well as nine other events throughout the UK to offer one-to-one help and support.

“Full details of where we’ll be can be found on our on-line events calendar on our website www.veterans-uk.info The calendar can be found on the ‘Veterans Community’ section and there is a link to that area from most pages on the site.”

The podcast and other SPVA social media products are available to access on the SPVA Social Media Hub via the Veterans-UK website, www.veterans-uk.info and on various social media sites such as iTunes and YouTube.

Further information on Armed Forces Day itself is available at www.armedforcesday.org.uk