A week of virtual celebrations to mark Saturday’s Armed Forces Day in Scarborough is underway.
Scarborough was due to host the 2020 national event, but it was put back to next year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, it is being celebrated online. Every day this week (22-28 June) new content will be added to the scarborougharmedforcesday.co.uk website.
A call for material has been answered by many local people as well as the military.
The website will feature interviews with Army personnel who have carried out Covid-19 testing in Scarborough, local RAF personnel and footage from the Royal Navy. Army, air and sea cadets from across the borough have also contributed.
The website will feature archive content from previous Armed Forces Day events, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Scarborough in years gone by and videos of the Red Arrows.
Pathfinder editor Mal Robinson has also compiled an Armed Forces Quiz which can be found here: https://www.scarborougharmedforcesday.co.uk/virtual/the-pathfinder-international-magazine-armed-forces-day-quiz-2020/
Several charities have contributed specially produced material for the website and there are interviews with two local veterans, both in their 90s, about their experiences.
On Armed Forces Day itself (27 June) a special event programme of footage and material will be published on the site across the day.
This will include messages from the Mayor of the Borough of Scarborough, Cllr Hazel Lynskey, Royal Navy Commodore, Phil Waterhouse and the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Jo Ropner.
The Yorkshire Regiment Band has recorded a special piece, there will be a blessing by the Reverend Richard Walker and an exclusive classical soprano performance by Laura Wright.
Cllr Tony Randerson, cabinet member with responsibility for the delivery of the Armed Forces Day National Event, said:
“Our virtual celebration of Armed Forces Day will honour the contribution of military personnel past and present.
And, while we can’t mark the occasion for real, our Armed Forces Day website is packed with amazing content and downloads.
We’ve had so many fantastic contributions locally, from across Yorkshire and the country.
I urge people to visit scarborougharmedforcesday.co.uk and our special Facebook page.”