Veterans Day Blackpool
In previous years Blackpool Council have held events to Honour All Who Served and are Serving. Below is a summary of past years
Blackpool Council, in partnership with the Fylde Ex–Service Liasion Committee is committed, through the annual celebration of Veterans Week, to “Honour and Unite All Who Served”.
Blackpool are hoping to build on the successes they have achieved over the last years with their previous Veterans events, by launching a whole week of events.
Blackpool's Victorian North Pier is the focal point and meeting place for veterans, their families and friends, providing a centre for entertainment, socialising, information sharing, and contact with welfare services. Golf buggies will be provided to transport visitors along the pier, should they require assistance.
Notice boards are erected which will enable individuals to notify others of their presence at the event, and to assist in the creating of personal reunions. Training will be provided to representatives of veterans associations to assist with sourcing funding and submitting bids. This will be delivered by official bodies for example Awards for All. An outdoor stage and screen will be sited on the promenade adjacent to the pier, providing a location for badge presentations, speeches and further entertainment.
Military Might: Land, Sea and Air
H. M. Forces come to town!
A first hand look at the trades and equipment utilised by the Armed Forces
During the action packed weekend:
Experience a Royal Marine Beach Landing
Take a nostalgic journey back in time and marvel as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's WWII flying machines: Hurricane, Spitfire and Dakota soar through the air all viewed from your very own front row seat on the North Promenade. Also showcased is the agile Hawk Jet. In level flying, this plane of choice of the Red Arrows approaches the speed of sound.
The RAF Falcons parachute display team will be dropping in to say hello from 12000 feet and helicopter search and rescue teams will demonstrate their vital skills. Other planes may be spotted over the weekend include the Tucano and Tutor training aircraft
.Veterans' Gala Dinner
Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens
All are welcome to join the Veterans and their friends and families at a spectacular gala dinner in the stunning surroundings of the Empress Ballroom. Come and enjoy a five-course meal to the sounds of the Lancashire Royal Artillery Band (v) followed a top class post-dinner cabaret. Dinner starts at 8pm. Join us first for a pre-dinner drink in the Arena.
National Veterans' Day Official Cenotaph Service 11.30am
Blackpool Cenotaph, adjacent to North Pier
Dedication of the Cenotaph Choir Loft and Official National Veterans' Day service. Blackpool leads the nation in a service to Honour and Unite All Who Served at the newly-restored Grade II listed War Memorial. The multi-faith service will be lead by Blackpool's Faith Forum and will welcome Veterans', their families and friends from all over the UK and abroad to give thanks to all former members of the Armed Forces for their service, dedication and sacrifice. Please note, as this is a service of celebration, no wreaths will be laid at the Cenotaph on this day.
Schools' Veterans' Day Thank You
Blackpool Cenotaph, adjacent to North Pier
To honour the thousands of veterans visiting Blackpool on National Veterans' Day, Blackpool school children will present their own 'Thank You' from the newly restored Cenotaph. Pupils from Blackpool schools are currently researching and writing their own tributes, which will be performed in front of Veterans and dignitaries on National Veterans' Day. Pupils have been asked to create their own performance to suitably thank Veterans for their services to the country during war and peacetime. The tributes can take any format from works of art to music, dance and poetry. Guests are invited to join the children at the Cenotaph to share in what is certain to be a moving tribute to veterans of all ages.
Badge Presentations
Blackpool Tower Ballroom - invitation only
50 veterans will be selected to receive their Veterans' Lapel Badges in the magnificent Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Veterans of all ages and backgrounds and from all over the country are invited to come to Blackpool on National Veterans' Day, to formally receive their Veterans' Badge.
Veterans' Parade
Starts at Blackpool Cenotaph, adjacent to North Pier
Be part of the largest ever National Veterans' Day Parade, here in Blackpool. Join in the early evening march along the famous Promenade, passing the newly-restored Cenotaph and the iconic Blackpool Tower. All veterans, serving military, youth groups and association members are invited to take part, as Blackpool residents and visitors line the route to pay tribute to the effort and sacrifice of all involved.
Friday Night is Music Night
Friday Night has been Music Night on BBC Radio 2 for half a century and now this popular show: the world's longest-running 'live music' program on radio, is coming to Blackpool as part of the resorts National Veterans' Day celebrations.
Veterans' Badge Challenges
All former members of the military are invited to apply for a Veterans' Badge: a lapel badge presented to an individual to mark their serviced in the UK's Armed Forces. However, Blackpool would like to highlight the skills, bravery and determination a career in the military can help to develop, in a truly unique way. On National Veterans' Day, Blackpool will challenge former seamen, soldiers, and airmen to 'retrieve' rather than receive their Veterans' Badge, by rising to one of our 'once in a lifetime' experiences. Who has a head for heights to abseil the 518 foot tall iconic structure of Blackpool Tower? Who is brave enough to retrieve their badge from the bottom of the huge tank at SeaLife Blackpool which is home to one of the largest collections of tropical sharks in Europe?
