Gosport salutes armed forces community

Gosport Borough Council is marking Armed Forces Week with a community information event and a special flag-raising ceremony.

At 10am on Monday 19 June, at the Falkland Gardens, the start of the week will be officially recognised when the Armed Forces Day Flag is raised with the Mayor of Gosport, Cllr Martin Pepper; Surgeon Captain Christopher Streets of the Institute of Naval Medicine; the executive officer of HMS Sultan, Commander Mark Reynolds, and other guests present.

From 9.30am to 2.30pm, in Gosport High Street, the Gosport Armed Forces Community Hub Event will bring together organisations offering services and support to the armed forces community.

Groups promoting their activities will include FirstLight Trust, Alabaré, Forces Employment Charity, Veterans Outreach Service, SSAFA and Gosport Voluntary Action. This free market-style information event has been organised by the council in recognition of Armed Forces Week and appreciation of the borough's large armed forces community.

Serving personnel, veterans and their families can find out more about services, supports and opportunities offered by local organisations.

The Mayor said: "This is an excellent event that enables the borough of Gosport to show its support to our armed forces. Having been a serving army officer for over 25 years, I know how much the support of the local community means to service personnel, and perhaps more importantly, their families. It would be great to see as many people as possible at the event."

Members of the armed forces community and wider public are very welcome to attend both the hub and the flag raising to show their appreciation and support for Gosport's armed forces community.

See more information about Armed Forces Week events and activities in and around Gosport. Information is also in the Town Hall reception area.

Organisations wanting to post their Armed Forces Week events and activities on the council's webpage or noticeboard can email GosportAFD@gosport.gov.uk