Large crowd watches military parade for Armed Forces Day in Exeter

Published: 22 June 2024

Hundreds of people lined the streets to watch a military parade through the city centre to mark Armed Forces Day.

RAF Brize Norton exercised their Freedom of the City at the event on Saturday.

The parade marched down the High Street to Exeter’s historic Guildhall, where a salute took in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Cllr Kevin Mitchell, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devon and Squadron Leader of RAF Brize Norton.

Military personnel, associations, cadets and scouts all took part in the parade, which proceeded to Cathedral Green, where an inspection took place by the Lord Mayor, Deputy Lieutenant, Air Commodore Sansome and RAF Brize Norton Squadron Leader.

A Military Village was set up on Cathedral Green, including recruiting stalls from some of the organisations and associations.

At precisely 11.25am an RAF Atlas C1 (A400) troop carrier – which can carry more than 100 troops as well as vehicles and helicopters and is based at Brize Norton – took part in a flyover in front of a large crowd.

As in previous years, Exeter City Council marks Armed Forces Day a week before the national event.