ISSUE TWO-APRIL 2016 FEDERATION OF PLYMOUTH AND DISTRICT EX-SERVICES ASSOCIATIONS CEREMONIES, ANNIVERSARIES AND EVENTS 2016 This list of Anniversaries, Ceremonies and Events for 2016, of interest to the Ex-Services Community, is compiled from best available information by Commander Charles Crichton OBE Royal Navy, Patron of the Federation. Event organisers are invited to send input and update information to Charles by email: [email protected] . A third issue will be distributed later in the year. Federation Standards. Requests for parade of standards will be annotated against events along with the “ assemble” time. Confirmed events are shown in BOLD. Events awaiting information for 2016 are shown in normal type. Completed events are shown in ITALICS See: Note 1 with information on entry to the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre Open Days (dates in the events list) Note 2 with the dates and information on the Evening Talks at the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre. FEBRUARY Mon 22 0730 Plymouth East Girlguiding World Thinking Day Celebration. Plymouth Hoe. Sat 27 HMS EXETER Association members and guests attend Civic Reception (1000-1050) by the Lord Mayor of Exeter. Veterans will parade (1100-1120)) and there will then be a Remembrance and Standard Dedication Service (1130-1230) at Exeter Cathedral. Veterans and families from the Macassar Association and the Battle of the River Plate Association will be joining in both the parade and the Dedication Service. For information contact the Association Secretary on [email protected] MARCH Mon 14 1000. Commonwealth Day Flag Raising at the Guildhall Flag Pole Sat 19- Ford Park Cemetery. An exhibition to commemorate the 75 th Anniversary of the Sun 10 July Plymouth Blitz. Admission free-donations welcome. Mon 21 1400. Ford Park Cemetery. The 75 th Anniversary of the Plymouth Blitz. A Service of Remembrance at the Victoria Chapel. For the full list of other events at Ford Park see www.ford-park-cemetery.org/events Sun 27 1400. Ford Park Cemetery. The Plymouth Blitz. A walk with the Heritage Team . PATRONS of THE FEDERATION 1 THE LORD MAYOR OF PLYMOUTH. FLAG OFFICER SEA TRAINING PLYMOUTH. COMMANDER C W CRICHTON OBE ROYAL NAVY. APRIL Sat 2- 1100-1500 Exhibition describing the history of RAF HARROWBEER at the End of Oct. Tavistock Museum, Court Gate, Guildhall Square, Tavistock. For school party visits call the museum during opening hours on 01822 611264. For history about RAF HARROWBEER see www.rafharrowbeer-dartmoor.org.uk Sun 3 Devonport Naval Heritage Centre Open Day. See note 1. Theme – History of the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre. Sat 9 1400-1700. Plymouth Argyle Football Club Armed Forces Day 2016. Static displays outside Home Park by Armed Forces units, the Cadet Corps and Service Charities. Displays on the pitch before the match by the Devonport Field Gun Association Junior Field Gun teams, HMS HEROES Military Kids Choir and the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps of Drums. Match kick off 1500. Thur 21 2000 Lighting of the Beacon on the battlements of the Royal Citadel to mark Her Majesty the Queen’s 90 th Birthday . The celebration hosted by the Commanding Officer of 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery in partnership with the City of Plymouth. Sun 24 1315. Annual Memorial Service at the Tank Memorial Site at Torcross, Devon, for those who lost their lives during Exercise Tiger at Slapton Sands on 28 April 1944. Conducted by the Royal Tank Regiment Association, Plymouth Branch. For further details contact Mr Dave Taylor [email protected] See www.Exercisetigermemorial.co.uk STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLE 1245 Sun 24 1500. Civic Church Service – 75 th Anniversary of the Plymouth Blitz, Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth. Sun 24 1500. Plymouth District Scouts St George’s Day Service, the Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Boniface, Wyndham Street, Plymouth. Sat 30 1900. Royal British Legion Spring Concert in support of the Poppy Appeal, Dartington Hall, Totnes. Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra, Plymouth Music of the Night Choir, Sam Fearon/Brothers in Arms and Colin Bache. Tickets: £15. Students and under 16 years of age £12. Book at the Dartington Box Office 01803 847070 [email protected] MAY Sat 30 April 1100-1630. RAF HARROWBEER ARCHIVE WEEKEND Sun 1-Mon 2 WORLD WAR II MEMORABILIA. May Knightstone Tea Rooms, Crapstone Road, Yelverton. Operational record Books of RAF HARROWBEER and the Squadrons that served there. Military vehicles. World War II artefacts. Free entry and parking. For information contact Michael Hayes 01822 853679 PATRONS of THE FEDERATION 2 THE LORD MAYOR OF PLYMOUTH. FLAG OFFICER SEA TRAINING PLYMOUTH. COMMANDER C W CRICHTON OBE ROYAL NAVY. Sat 7 to PLYMOUTH HISTORY FESTIVAL MONTH the 5 June See www.Plymouth.gov.uk/whatson Includes a substantial programme of events at the Devonport Naval Heritage Centre Sat 7 1930 St Mary’s Church Plympton. A concert by the Plymouth Military Wives Choir in aid of the Royal British Legion (Plympton Branch) Poppy Appeal. Tickets £10. Sat 7-Sun 8 Ten Tors, Dartmoor National Park. Sun 8 2000. Ford Park Cemetery. The Plymouth Blitz. An atmospheric evening walk. Wed 11 1930. Ford Park Cemetery. The Bombing of Plymouth. An illustrated talk with Laurence Axworthy. Victoria Chapel. £2 Thur 19- Devon County Show, Clyst St Mary, Westpoint, Exeter. Sat 21 See www.devoncountyshow.co.uk Fri 20 1030. Lord Mayor of Plymouth Choosing Ceremony, Plymouth Guildhall Fri 20 1930 for 2000. Lord Mayor of Plymouth Choosing Dinner HMS DRAKE. Sun 22 1030. Lord Mayor of Plymouth Civic Church Service, Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth. STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE AT 1000 tba Joint Services Hosanna House Group Pilgrimage to Lourds incorporating International Military Pilgrimage. Sat 28 1200. At the Belvedere Memorial Garden, Plymouth Hoe, the Plymouth and Southwest Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association will hold a Commemoration of the 50 th anniversary of the ending of hostilities. STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE AT 1130 Sat 28 1200. Lord Mayor of Plymouth’s Festival - Plymouth City Centre. Mon 30 1000-1700. Devonport Naval Heritage Centre. Open Day. See note 1 below. Specials displays: Commemoration of the Centenary of the Battle of Jutland and Forgotten Wrecks of the First World War Tue 31 1100. A Service to Commemorate the 100 th Anniversary of the Battle of Jutland. Royal Naval War Memorial, Plymouth Hoe. Managed by the Royal Navy. (Lt Cdr M Burke RN 01752 286065) STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE 1000. JUNE Fri 3 1200. Memorial Service at the US Naval Memorial, Tamar Bridge, Car Park. STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE 1130 PATRONS of THE FEDERATION 3 THE LORD MAYOR OF PLYMOUTH. FLAG OFFICER SEA TRAINING PLYMOUTH. COMMANDER C W CRICHTON OBE ROYAL NAVY. Sat 4 1930. SSAFA Fundraising Ball. Commando Forces Officers’ Mess, Royal Marine Barracks, Stonehouse, Plymouth. Plymouth is the oldest SSAFA branch being founded in 1885 (as SSFA) at the start of the Boer War and has been active in the City of Plymouth ever since. Tickets £50 each. For details contact SSAFA Plymouth Branch on 01752 553414 Mon 6 1100. D-Day Memorial Service at the Normandy Veterans Memorial, Belvedere Gardens, the Hoe, Plymouth. STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE 1030 Thur 9- The Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge. Sat 11 see www.royalcornwallshow.org Sat 11 Her Majesty the Queen’s Official Birthday Thur 16 1400. Door of Unity Service, Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth. RN, RM & MN STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE 1330 . Sun 19 1000 (To be confirmed) Royal Navy Mass with the RC Bishop of the Armed Forces. Roman Catholic Cathedral, Plymouth. Mon 20 1000. Plymouth Armed Forces Day Flag Raising Ceremony, Plymouth Guildhall STANDARDS REQUESTED. ASSEMBLE 0930 Sat 25 PLYMOUTH ARMED WEEKEND-PLYMOUTH HOE -Sun 26 A big “Thank You” to the Armed Forces, their families and our veterans. To raise awareness of and support for our Armed Forces community and celebrate the outstanding contribution it makes to our country. Programme includes: Sat 25 (1000-1030) 0930-1030. The RAF and Allied Air Forces Monument Service. 1100. Parade of ex-service standards, veterans and cadets across the Hoe. 1100-1500 Plymouth Youth Music Service on stage. 1400. The Rifles Freedom of the City Parade. The parade (250 from the 4 th Battalion and 6 Rifles Reservists) will step off from the Royal Citadel led by the Band of the Rifles then Citadel Road, Elliot St and then across the Hoe returning to the Royal Citadel. Arena displays. Royal Navy, Army, RAF and veterans villages. Emergency Services. Royal Citadel “Open day”. Large Pipes and Drums Band. 1700-2230 Evening stage live music entertainment. Sun 26 (1000-1600) 1130-1230. 29 Cdo Regiment Royal Artillery will hold a “Feu de Joie”, a military spectacle by the residents of the Royal Citadel. 1300-1400 and 1500-1600 Air Displays. In the afternoon the Devonport Field Gun Association will host a new Junior Field Gun Tournament. See www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/armed-forces-weekend for programme detail. SAT 25 STANDARDS REQUESTED: ASSEMBLY TIME TO BE ANNOUNCED PATRONS of THE FEDERATION 4 THE LORD MAYOR OF PLYMOUTH. FLAG OFFICER SEA TRAINING PLYMOUTH. COMMANDER C W CRICHTON OBE ROYAL NAVY. Note: With apologies to the Mayor of Torpoint, Issue one OF THE events list incorrectly announced that there would be a Cornwall Armed Forces Day at Torpoint on Sat 25 June. There will NOT be a Cornwall Armed Forces Day at Torpoint this year. Mon 20 SEAFARERS AWARENESS WEEK will promote UK maritime job opportunities, at -Sun 26 sea and ashore. It will also focus on increasing young people’s knowledge of the UK’s historic and ongoing dependence as an island nation on seafarers. See WWW.seafarersawarenessweek.org Thur 23 – Supporting Seafarers day – A national fundraising day.