June 3, 2015

With less than four weeks to go until the Armed Forces Day National Event in Guildford on Saturday 27 June, you can expect a fantastic show of military displays and live music and entertainment.

Cllr Matt Furniss, Lead Councillor for Armed Forces Day, says: “Stoke Park will transform into an amazing spectacle with so much to see both on the ground and in the skies above Guildford. Visitors will be spoilt for choice as to what to see and do next. The Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force have pulled out all the stops to ensure the National Event for 2015 will be an Armed Forces Day to remember.
As well as the military displays, there is plenty of live music and entertainment of all varieties to enjoy, arranged by Guildford Fringe. The nation’s attention will be on Guildford on 27 June as local residents join the country in thanking the Armed Forces for all they do on our behalf.”

Entry is free and no tickets are required to watch the parade or enter the Stoke Park event.

Music and entertainment will start at 10.30am on the Guildford Fringe Stage in Stoke Park. Following the Armed Forces Day parade through the town at 11.30am, the live action displays in the Main Arena in Stoke Park start at 1pm. A Tornado GR4 Flypast leads the way, ending with the Red Arrows Flypast, mass bands and beating retreat. MC for the whole event will be Peter Gordon from Eagle Radio and the Main Arena timetable will feature:

• Tornado GR4 Flypast
• Royal Navy Raiders Parachute Display
• Royal Signals White Helmets Motorbike Display
• Royal Navy Swordfish Flypast (bi-plane from the Royal Navy ‘s Historic Flight)
• Band of the Royal Marines, Portsmouth
• RAF Falcons (parachute display team)
• Cadets Drill and Band
• Army Red Devils Parachute Display
• Queen’s Colour Squadron
• Battle of Britain Memorial Flypast (featuring the legendary Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster bombers)
• Household Cavalry Musical Ride
• Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC) Gymnastic Display
• 3rd Battalion Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment Infantry Display (battlefield demonstration with loud gunfire and explosions)
• Red Arrows Flypast, Mass Bands and Beating Retreat

Royal Signals White Helmets Motorbike Display

The Ministry of Defence Band will start the live music on the Guildford Fringe Stage, with From The Jam featuring Bruce Foxton providing the big finish on the Arena Stage at 7.30pm to what promises to be a spectacular day. Compered by Nick Wyschna, the Guildford Fringe Stage will host a variety of live music and entertainment:

•        The Band of The Adjutant General’s Corps – Ministry of Defence Band
•        Samuel Haughton
•        Remix Voices
•        Guildford College Performing Arts
•        Majella Yorston
•        Rock Choir
•        Bellytricks Bellydance
•        Thomas Hobbs
•        Patriot Girls
•        Aldershot Military Wives Choir
•        West End Kids
•        Charlotte Jaconelli
•        Performance Preparation Academy

Bellytricks Bellydance

At 5pm the Guildford Fringe Stage closes with music and entertainment continuing on the Arena Stage from 5.30pm until 7.30pm.

The evening programme on the Arena Stage will feature:

•          Ministry of Defence Band
•         Thomas Hobbs
•         West End Kids
•         Patriot Girls
•         From the Jam

In addition to the arena and stage action, there will be a military village of static displays open from 10.30 until 5.30pm, with machines, equipment and exhibitions. The highlights across the three Armed Forces include: Merlin helicopters, Challenger 2 Tank, Chinook, Artillery and Light Gun equipment, Field Hospital catering demonstrations, Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial aircraft, RAF Police dogs, RAF bomb disposal squadron and much more.