Aberdeen prepares for Armed Forces Day celebration

24 June 2019

Crowds will line Union Street as Aberdeen welcomes more than 1,000 serving, veteran and cadet force personnel when they parade through the city centre to mark Armed Forces Day on Saturday, 29 June.

The march, which will include massed pipes and drums and vintage WWII military vehicles, begins at 11am at Albyn Place and then heads down Union Street to the Castlegate.

Local group the 47th Aberdeen Girl Guides will give out 2,000 free hand-held flags for the public to wave. One side of the flag was designed by seven-year-old Kitty Fraser, a P3 pupil at Kirkhill Primary School, as part of the Aberdeen City Council run design competition as part of the build-up to Armed Forces Day.

Prizes were also awarded to Aleksandra Wieczorek, also from Kirkhill Primary School, and Tanish Kirodian of Robert Gordon’s College. All prize winners received a family pass to the Gordon Highlanders Museum and Hobbycraft vouchers.

As the parade passes the Town House, the Lord Provost of Aberdeen Barney Crockett, in his role of Lord-Lieutenant, will take the salute along with top military personnel.

The Lord-Lieutenant Barney Crockett said: “It was fantastic to present Kitty with her prize for winning the design a flag competition, and Kirkhill School set a high president for celebrating our Armed Forces as they waved their classmates flag with pride.

“Aberdeen always welcomes the opportunity to thank personnel for their service to the country by turning out in large numbers to watch the parade. Spectators, young and old, pay tribute to the British Armed Forces for their efforts, hard work and dedication to keep us safe in the UK and across the globe.

“The pipe bands, marching personnel and military vehicles fill the length of Union Street and create a moving spectacle that is truly heart-warming.”

The parade will be led by a pipe band formed from members of the Aberdeen University Officer Training Corp, London Scottish, Huntly and Turriff pipe bands.

In order to ensure the safety of the event for both participants and spectators, as well as those travelling around Aberdeen, road closures and restrictions will be in place for a limited time during the parade. For details of road closures visit www.aberdeencity.gov.uk .