Flag raised ready for Armed Forces Day

Wokingham Borough Mayor, Cllr Carol Jewell has helped fly the flag for Armed Forces Day 2025. 

The Mayor raised a flag aloft in support of the annual celebration at the council’s Shute End offices on Thursday (26 June). 

Armed Forces Day 2025 is on Saturday 28 June. This year, it lands against the backdrops of the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day. 

Every June, Armed Forces Day enables people UK-wide to show their support for Britain’s Armed Forces – the British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy – including serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadets and all their families. 

The day was founded as Veterans’ Day in 2006 before being renamed in 2009. 

'A privilege to help raise the flag'

“We have many serving personnel, reservists, cadets and veterans living and working in the borough,” said Cllr Jewell, who has lived in Woodley for more than 50 years. 

“Flying the flag makes clear the council’s commitment to their support and wellbeing. I’m delighted that as Borough Mayor I can contribute.” 

Cllr Adrian Betteridge, the council’s Armed Forces champion, said: “I’m a veteran myself. So, it’s a privilege to help raise the Armed Forces Day flag with the Borough Mayor. 

"I know how highly regarded our Armed Forces are by people.” 

Armed Forces Day flags are flown across the country each year to mark the occasion.  

On Saturday (28 June), the Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band are set to perform live in a free event in Peach Place, Wokingham from 11am to 12noon. 

The band took their name from where they were founded, St Sebastian’s Memorial Hall in Crowthorne, in 1931, eight years before the outbreak of the Second World War.