The Essex Armed Forces Day & Military Festival, previously the South Essex Armed Forces Day is one of the largest military events in the East of England.
VENUE – After an extensive search throughout Essex for a suitable venue, the new look Essex Armed Forces Day & Military Festival will be taking place at the Orsett Showground in Thurrock on Saturday 2nd July 2016 between 10am and 5pm.
With more troops than ever before in attendance at this year’s show it promises to be one to remember, with a full programme of local performances and demonstrations throughout the day as well as trade stands and activities for all the family to enjoy.
The new look show will feature the very best of our previous shows as well as a few spectacular not to be missed additions which will keep all eyes firmly on both the ground and in the skies.
MILITARY – The main focal point of the Essex Armed Forces Day will be to allow the public an opportunity to meet our Armed Forces both past and present to thank them for their work in keeping us safe.
Numerous units have thrown their support behind the event which will see a representation of every military unit in Essex attending with a superb array of weaponry and vehicles used in our Armed Forces both today and yesterday.
Local units will form a key part of the event, with units from Brentwood, Southend, Chelmsford and Colchester in attendance.
This is a unique one off opportunity in Essex this year to find out more about their work and enjoy a great family day out in their honour.
BE PART OF IT – Want to show your support for our Armed Forces? Can you sing or dance? Do you have any spare time to help with the event? Would you like to trade at our show or would your company like to have its name involved with one of the largest Armed Forces celebrations in the East of England? Please get in touch today at [email protected] to discuss how you can get involved for 2016.
Dan Rodgers, EMSA Chairman says “It’s exciting to see another fantastic event coming together to allow us to show our support for our Armed Forces. With more troops on the ground than ever before in our shows this is a fantastic opportunity for the public to come out and show their support and have a unique opportunity to find out more about each of our Essex based units and thank them personally for their work in keeping us safe”.
David Hadjicostas MBE of Royal Artillery Association (Shoeburyness) says “The Shoeburyness and South Essex Branch of the Royal Artillery Association are proud to support this year’s Essex Armed Forces Day at the Orsett Showground with our 25 pounder Gun and are very much looking forward to meeting veterans and others attending what promises to be a great day out celebrating our splendid Armed Forces“.
Colonel Charles Thomas TD DL, Chairman of the Essex Forum of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, East Anglia says “we welcomed the opportunity to showcase the military, the more so if it involves The Army Reserve and Cadets alongside the Regular Army. Keeping in touch with local communities was important. As operations decrease in number, the Armed Forces would find fewer chances to be in the public eye.”
About British Army
The Army both Regular and Reserve are recruiting. The Territorial Army is becoming the Army Reserve. The FR20 White Paper helps set the conditions to grow and sustain the Reserves, which make an essential and growing contribution to our nation’s security. The Reserves are ready and willing to volunteer and share the same risks as Regular soldiers. The vision is to have a committed and transformed Army Reserve, manned, trained, and equipped as part of the Whole Force, confidently able to take its place as part of the integrated Army in delivering military capability at home and abroad. Recognised, respected, and valued by Society.”
