Recent Events
Armistic Day 2008
Click here for a report of Armistice Day 2008 at the Arboretum.
Ride to the Wall
| On the Saturday October 11 2008, over 2,500 motorbikes rode from Tamworth Services to the Arborteum. Escorted by Police motorcyclists, it took 1½ hours from the first bike leaving to the last bike arriving at the Arboretum. Over 3000 people participated in the service at the Armed Forces Memorial and the dignity shown by all was truly wonderful, with memories flooding back to many of those present. |
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| Over 2,500 motorbikes on "Ride to the Wall" |
The main aim of the day was, firstly to remember those that have died since WW2 and secondly to raise money for the Arboretum. The event exceeded all expectations and raised £10,400 for the upkeep of the Arboretum. Read the press release here.
Now an annual event, this year's ride will take place on 10 October 2009. Registrations are now open on www.rttw.org.
A gallery of photos from the day is available courtesy of Barry Turner Photography.
National TA100 Armed Forces Memorial Parade and Services
Held on 13 September to celebrate the centenary of the Territorial Army, about 2,000 guests, including current and former TA members and their family and friends, flooded the arboretum on a rare day of bright sunshine for the service.
It was attended by dignitaries including the Duke of Kent, the Duke of Westminster and Chief of the General Staff General Sir Richard Dannatt, with guest of honour, Edwin Cooper, 104, from Belgrano, Abergele, Conwy - the oldest surviving former member of the TA.
A gallery of photos from the day is available courtesy of Barry Turner Photography.
British Korean War Veterans Day
The British Korean Veterans Association Annual Drumhead Service was held at the Arboretum on Sunday 27 July. Barry Turner Photography have prepared a gallery of photos from the event.
Additional names on Armed Forces Memorial
102 names of members of the Armed Forces who died during 2007 have been added to the Armed Forces Memorial. Click here for the details of the dedication service.
Veterans Day
June 27 was a day of festivities to commemorate the massive contribution our veterans continue to make to our communities. Click here for the details.
Trio of Royal Visits
The Arboretum has rolled out the red carpet for three royal visits in a week - the Duke of Gloucester, Princess Royal and Princess Michael of Kent.
Civil Defence Association Memorial
The Duke of Gloucester was the guest of honour on Saturday 16 May, at a commemoration marking the 40th anniversary of the stand down of thousands of volunteer members of the Civil Defence Corps and Auxiliary Fire Service. He unveiled a Civil Defence Association memorial and watched as People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) chiefs lay a wreath marking the contribution of Civil Defence search dogs awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal - the animals' Victoria Cross - during the Second World War.
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Visit by The Princess Royal Her Royal Highness opened the National Association of Memorial Masons' Centenary Garden in the morning and later, as Colonel-in-Chief of The Royal Corps of Signals, unveiled the Royal Signals Memorial. She also toured the Armed Forces Memorial accompanied by NMA Chief Executive, Charles Bagot Jewitt. The name of her great uncle, Admiral of the Fleet The Earl Mountbatten of Burma who was killed in Northern Ireland, appears on the memorial. |
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| HRH The Princess Royal viewing the AFM with Charles Bagot Jewitt |
Her final engagement, as Patron of the Firefighters Memorial Charitable Trust, was to unveil a Fire Service Monument. The monument "Firefighters Serving Humanity" recognises past, present and future Firefighters.
The Princess Royal was driven through a parade of Standard Bearers and Ceremonial Squads before being greeted by the Chairman of the Trust, Gerry Clarkson. Several hundred people attended the ceremony with representatives from brigades across the country and families of Firefighters who have lost their lives whilst serving.
"We were blessed by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and we were blessed by the weather" Mr Clarkson said. "Attendees couldn't fail to be moved by the ceremony which marked the contribution Firefighters make in serving their community."
HRH The Princess Royal at the unveiling ceremony for the Fire Services Monument
UK Forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina commemorated
Forty-eight hours later on Thursday 21 May, Princess Michael of Kent completed the Royal visits by joining 500 veterans to honour those who lost their lives during the 1990s conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The commemorative service was held at the magnificent Armed Forces Memorial and marked the efforts of more than 100,000 members of UK Armed Forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina over their 15 year deployment, paying tribute to those who did not return.
The service was attended by HRH The Princess Michael of Kent, Minister of State for the Armed Forces Bob Ainsworth, Chief of the General Staff General Sir Richard Dannatt, and Bosnia and Herzegovina Defence Minister Mr Selmo Cikotic. Also present were hundreds of veterans from across the UK, and the families and friends of those who paid the ultimate price in bringing greater peace and stability to a country once ravaged by a bitter civil war.
Remembrance Sunday/Armistice Day 2007
Held at the Armed Forces Memorial for the first time, the clouds cleared in time for the sun to shine through the slit in the wall onto the central wreath at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Click here for more information.
Armed Forces Memorial Opening
Her Majesty the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were at the National Memorial Arboretum on Friday 12 October 2007 to see the Archbishop of Canterbury dedicate a new memorial to the Armed Forces. Click here for more information.
