Armed services in huge celebration at Bognor

The three services came together for the Armed Forces Day event on Sunday to pay tribute to their contribution to the town and the country.

Hundreds of people turned out in front of the pier to salute their activities. The day included medal presentations, a chance to talk to servicemen past and present and the opportunity to see the youngest members of the armed forces in action.

The day's senior military figure, Col David Sanders, the deputy commander of No2 SE Brigade, told the crowd the occasion summed up the growing backing for the armed forces.

"It feels to me, and I think it feels to a lot of service people, like we have been doing our business behind closed doors in the UK for the past 20-25 years.

"In the past one, two, three years we have started to come out in the open among the communities and to mix with you and to start seeing uniforms on the streets again.

"From what I have seen, the response has been wonderful. Whatever business we are doing, wherever we are going, there has been a tremendous response from civilian people in the UK," he said.

Organisers at Bognor Regis Town Council, the Royal Air Forces Association and the Royal British Legion were delighted with the day's success.

Town council events officer Sue Holmes said: "This has set the mark for Bognor's contribution to Armed Forces Day. We will intend to make it bigger and better next year.

"This has been a very good day and we have been pleased with it. It's been real teamwork between our organisations and the cadets and we have pulled together.

"I've have some very positive comments from people and it's been good to recognise the work of the armed forces."

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