Armed Forces Day 2023
On Saturday, June 17th, Banbury Town Council hosted Armed Forces Day as a memorable tribute to celebrate and honour service men and women—past, present, and future. The Armed Forces Day flag was raised above the town hall at 9:45 am, preceding the main event in the Market Place at 10 am.
Banbury Town Council orchestrated an engaging program of military-style entertainment, showcasing various static displays, demonstrations, and a collection of wartime vehicles that captivated visitors of all ages. Cadet units conducted basic field training, allowing the public to interact. The council also invited visitors to go beneath the camo net and sandbag walls to explore a nuclear bunker built beneath the town hall, offering an experience no one would wish to encounter in reality. Upon stepping outside, an array of stalls exhibited military equipment for visitors to inspect.
A standout moment of the event was witnessing members of today’s armed forces, along with cadets and veterans, joining together in a parade that concluded at the town hall on Bridge Street with a ceremonial salute.
The Brize Norton Military Wives Choir added to the festivities by performing a mix of traditional and modern songs live on stage. Additionally, the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London was projected onto a big screen, allowing the Banbury audience to witness it as it unfolded.
In 2023, we successfully achieved our goal of introducing more interactive and engaging attractions at this event for the entire family and the event managed to achieve the busiest day in June in Banbury with 3,428, 4% of the total of which 1,668 (49%) being new visitors to the town.