The Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr Leonard Price led a flag-raising ceremony on the steps of the Town Hall today. With the contribution to this special event given by representatives of three of the main armed forces local units, including the British Legion and a representative from the Kent Lieutenancy.

An alert was played by a bugle call, followed by a welcome speech to all in attendance from the Mayor.

The Mayor's Chaplain, Rev. Robert Avery, Vicar of King Charles the Martyr Church led this special ceremony with prayers.

The Mayor then made a speech regarding this special occasion, followed by his instruction to raise the Armed Forces Day flag, which was hoisted above the Town Hall, accompanied by a bugle call - The General Salute -  by Jon Vanns.

This is a part of a national campaign and initiative by the Government, who have called the very first Armed Forces Day for Saturday 27^th June.

This flag raising event will mark the start of a week of national celebrations, with the purpose of reminding the nation of Britain and to show their appreciation for the work that the Armed Forces provide for their country in war zones, in different parts of the world.

After the ceremony, the Mayor Leonard Price invited a team of representatives from the armed forces to join him in a cricket match, between the Kent Spitfires and the Hampshire Hawks, at the Twenty20 Fixture which took place at the Nevill Ground.

This special event and match provides the Mayor Leonard Price, another opportunity to demonstrate Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's sincere appreciation for the contribution made by the armed forces, both nationally and locally.

With the presence of the Mayor at the D-Day memorial ceremony on 6^th June 2009, in which he showed his own personal appreciation to Mr Tom Pitson, a D-Day veteran, and to the other brave men who also attended the ceremony, the Mayor clearly demonstrated his gratitude for the difficult, hazardous, and dangerous assignments that the armed forces undertook not only on D-Day, but to those British troops during this special occasion marking the first Armed Forces Day, who continue to uphold freedom and peace whatever countries they may be assigned to.

The Mayor Leonard Price and the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council wish to express their grateful thanks to Mr Jon Vanns RNR, and members of TS Brilliant and the Tunbridge Wells Sea Cadet Corps, for providing the bugle calls.

For more information about Armed Forces Day...Please log-on to www.armedforcesday.org.uk