Thousands of people flocked to Scarborough's seafront under blue skies to celebrate Armed Forces Day and show their support for service personnel, veterans, and their families.
Thousands of people flocked to Scarborough to publicly show their support and appreciation for service personnel, their families, cadets, and veterans during an epic day of celebrations.
Under blue skies on Saturday, aircraft took to the sky and marching bands performed along the seafront as young and old gathered from far and wide.
The event, which is one of the largest of its kind nationally, was hosted by North Yorkshire Council as part of its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant. For the second year running, the celebrations were sponsored by the Skipton Building Society.
North Yorkshire Council chair, Councillor David Chance, hosted the event, which was also attended by the authority’s Armed Forces champion, Councillor Kevin Foster.
Councillor David Chance said:
"It was an absolutely fantastic day for Scarborough with thousands of people coming together and showing their support for our service personnel, cadets and veterans and recognising the sacrifices of their families.
The atmosphere was nothing short of inspiring. From the spectacular air displays flypasts, marching bands to the parades and performances along the seafront, the whole event was a powerful reminder of the pride and gratitude our communities feel.
We are honoured to host Armed Forces Day as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and I would like to thank everyone who took part, performed or supported the celebrations. It was a true showcase of community spirit and respect."
Crowds enjoyed colourful parades, musical performances, and family activities throughout the day.
The skies above Scarborough featured five air displays, including a high-energy, high-speed performance from the RAF Typhoon and a flypast from the RAF Chinook.
On the ground, attendees were treated to traditional military marches, band displays, presentations, and live music throughout the afternoon. Among those performing were the Scarborough Sea Cadets and veterans, with standards and cadets’ parades led by the Queen’s Own Yeomanry and the Yorkshire Volunteers Band.
This year’s attractions also featured a special display by the Chelsea Pensioners, marking their very first appearance at Scarborough Armed Forces Day.
Commodore Thomas Knowles, the Naval regional commander for Northern England and the Isle of Man, acted as the saluting officer for the event.
Commodore Thomas Knowles said:
"It has been a privilege to join the celebrations in Scarborough today and to see such strong public support for our armed forces community.
North Yorkshire plays a vital role in the defence of the nation with thousands of service personnel, their families and cadets living, working and studying across the county. Saturday’s turnout reflects the deep respect and gratitude people feel for those who have served, are serving and will be serving in the future."
North Yorkshire has a deep military connection, with more than 12,000 people working for the Ministry of Defence and 3,000 children from service families attending schools in the area.
The county is home to Catterick Garrison, one of the country’s largest military bases, alongside other barracks at Dishforth, Ripon, and Topcliffe. It also hosts Royal Air Force stations at Leeming, Fylingdales, and Menwith Hill, as well as the Harrogate-based Army Foundation College.
The county was notably one of the first places in the UK to establish an Armed Forces Covenant, which ensures that military personnel and veterans have access to services across both the private and public sectors.
Councillor Kevin Foster said:
"Armed Forces Day is always a highlight for Scarborough, and I am pleased to say this year was another memorable event."
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