Armed Forces Day 2017: North Herts salutes our troops, veterans and cadets

The Harpenden Pipe Band on Armed Forces Day 2017 in Letchworth. Picture: Maureen Millard (Image: Archant)

In Letchworth, members of the public joined in the cadets’ drilling in Broadway Gardens, as Harpenden Pipe Band made a welcome return to the garden city after their performance there last year.

Organising team secretary Ken Needham – from the Letchworth, Hitchin and District branch of the Royal Air Forces Association – said afterwards that the celebrations had gone well, but that they had been somewhat disappointed by the low turnout.

He said: “The weather was very kind to us, and all those who attended enjoyed themselves.

“The Army and Air cadets enjoyed competing for trophies among themselves, cheered on by spectators.

Members of the Stevenage branch of the Royal Air Force Association talking to people in Stevenage Town Square to mark Armed Forces Day. Picture: Patricia Jeffery (Image: Archant)

“The ever-popular ‘square bashing’ was a great success, with members of the public joining the cadets being marched around the ‘square’ – and the pipe band from Harpenden and the choir from Stevenage helped made a successful day.

“If there was any criticism, it is that we would liked to have seen more of the general public supporting their military men and women.”

In Stevenage, the Royal British Legion and RAFA set up stalls in Town Square on Saturday, and collected £1,600 for the Poppy Appeal.

Former Poppy Appeal organiser Richard Mott said: “It’s all about getting out into the community – we were so pleased to raise such a fantastic amount of money. The people of Stevenage are always so generous.”

In Baldock, Armed Forces Day was celebrated with a Royal British Legion stall and former Royal Air Force truck beside the war memorial in the High Street. The day was also marked in Hitchin, with cadets in Market Place.

Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually on the last Saturday of June. To find out more see armedforcesday.org.uk.