Exeter gets ready to celebrate Armed Forces Day

Published: 9 June 2022

Exeter celebrates Armed Forces Day on Saturday 18 June with a parade of military service personnel cadets and veterans through the city centre.

This will be the first time the city has been able to hold a military parade down the High Street since 2019, due to the Covid pandemic.

Exeter’s event traditionally takes place a week before national Armed Forces Day and as part of this year’s event, 243 Field Hospital will be exercising their Freedom of the City.

The parade sets off from outside the Civic Centre at 11am, following an inspection. Lead by The Rifles Salamanca Band, the parade will march down the High Street to Exeter’s historic Guildhall, where a salute will be taken in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Cllr Yolonda Henson.

As part of the event there will also be a small ‘military village’ on the Cathedral Green with recruiting stalls from some of the organisations and associations and a field kitchen providing those taking part with a pasty and a pint (soft drinks will be made available).

Cllr Martin Pearce, Exeter City Council’s Armed Forces Champion, said: “This is an important day to honour our military and show our support for the important job they do.

“This is the first time we have been able to have an actual parade in three years because of the pandemic, so it will be great to see service personnel, cadets and veterans back in our High Street with the people of Exeter enjoying the spectacle of Armed Forces Day. I can’t wait!”