Armed Forces Week 2025
Haverhill, Suffolk
We will be commemorating Armed Forces Week again this year by raising of the flag on Monday 23rd June 2025 at 2pm on the Market Square. Then Armed Forces Day itself on Saturday 28th June 2025 between 11am and 3pm.
This year our theme is the 80th anniversaries of both Victory in Europe and Victory over Japan days.
It's a great free day out.
In addition, we will be commemorating the 80th anniversaries of Victory over Japan Day (VJ80) in August 2025.
Finally we will once again be commemorating Remembrance Sunday on 8th November 2025.
We are very pleased to advise that we are hosting an Aérospatiale/Westland Gazelle helicopter from 677 Squadron, 6 Regiment of the Army Air Corps from Blenheim Camp in Bury St Edmunds on Armed Forces Day 2025.
This follows on from their much appreciated presence at last years event.
Planned events for Saturday 28th June 2025
Time (approximate) | Event |
|---|---|
10.00 am to 11.00 am | Military convoy congregates in Arts Centre car park, All military vehicles are welcome so if you want to take part in the convoy please message tony.brown@haverhill-tc.gov.uk |
11.00 am | Convoy leaves Arts Centre car park, via Duddery Hill, Clements Lane and Camps Road to the Market Square. |
11.10 am to 11.30 am | Convoy parks on Market Square and High Street. |
11.30 am | Parade consisting of Glenmoriston Pipe Band, Royal British Legion & standards, Air Training Corps and Police Cadets leave front of the Arts Centre along the High Street to the Market Square via the churchyard. |
11.00am to 3.00pm | Event and entertainment starts consisting of music from the Haverhill Silver Band, Glenmoriston Pipe Band, and stalls from Just Jane, Veteran’s Foundation, Breakfast Club, Alcoholics Anonymous, Haverhill Local History Group. Haverhill Family History Group, Air Training Corps, Police Cadets, Haverhill Aviation Society, Ridgewell Air Museum, and Mick Taylor.
|
1.00 pm | Raising of the Armed Forces flags. |
3.00 pm | Event finishes. |
On Thursday, 8th May 2025 we had a short flag raising ceremony on the Market Square to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Then in the evening, starting with bell ringing, we had a civic event to remember the day as it happened, in readings singing and videos, in St. Mary's Church A video of both events is below.
Armed Forces Week 2024
Haverhill was designated the Armed Forces Week lead town in Suffolk for 2024.
We commemorated the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord (D-Day) on 6th June. Here is a video of the event
We commemorated the event on Armed Forces Day (29th June).
Armed Forces Week started with a flag raising commemoration on Monday 24th June with Armed Forces Day itself on Saturday 29th June when we had stalls, entertainment and much more on the Market Square.
A short military based convoy, with supporters, progressed from the Arts Centre car park at 11.00 am, proceeded up Duddery Hill, Clements Lane, Camps Road and finishing on the Market Square at 11.15 am where the vehicles parked for the rest of the event.
More information will be updated here as details are confirmed.
Thursday 6th June 2024 11.00 am:
Short service. Rev'd Max Drinkwater who will read a proclamation, raising of the D-Day 80 flag, lighting of The Lamp Light of Peace, and the playing of the Last Post to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, on the Market Square. With the Mayor of Haverhill Councillor David Smith and others. Everybody is welcome.
Monday 24th June 2024 2.00 pm:
A short service was held with the raising of the Armed Forces Flag on the Market Square to mark the start of Armed Forces Week. With the Mayor of Haverhill Councillor David Smith, Rev'd Max Drinkwater, Bryan Mills (Chair Royal British Legion Haverhill & Thurlow Branch) and others.
Armed Forces Week flag raising 24th June 2024
Saturday 29th June 2024 11.00 am:
Armed Forces Convoy sets off from rear of Arts Centre proceeding up Duddery Hill, along Clements Lane, then Camps Road arriving on the Market Square at around 11.15 am.
