Leominster Town Council used the Herefordshire Armed Forces Week 2018 Flag Raising Event on 25th June 2018 as an opportunity to sign the Armed Forces Covenant on behalf of the town of Leominster, and in their own right as an employer, who can count a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer amongst their staff.
The covenant was signed at a special ceremony which was attended by various local dignitaries, town Councillors and veterans from the Armed Forces community living in Leominster, including Brigadier (Ret’d) Peter Jones. Students from the Earl Mortimer College were in attendance, and offered readings during the flag raising ceremony itself which was then followed by the unveiling of a special new Memorial Bench.
The Armed Forces Covenant was signed on behalf of Leominster by the Mayor, Councillor Jenny Bartlett and Mr Frank Low, Chairman of the Leominster Branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) and by Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Hitchman on behalf of the military.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly. Businesses, councils and charitable organisations who wish to demonstrate their support for the armed forces community can sign the covenant. In doing so they make a range of written and publicised promises to set out their support.
Members of the Armed Forces community were then invited to attend a small reception in the gardens of the town council offices, before being presented with a limited edition Hero’s Beer, brewed locally in Leominster, and commissioned by the Town Council to raise funds for the RBL.
During Armed Forces week the town held a number activities and events to mark the occasion and celebrate their Armed Forces community, finishing with a concert on the Friday evening at the Priory and a fun filled day of activities on Armed Forces Day itself.
To view more photos from the event take a look at our photo gallery here.
