A TOWN's annual Armed Forces celebration has received a big boost after receiving thousands of pounds in funding from the Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry of Defence have awarded Weymouth Town Council £10,000 to support it's annual Armed Forces celebration, taking place this year from Saturday, June 18 to Monday, June 20.

The popular military event was cancelled in 2020 and a scaled-back version of the event took place last year due to Covid - making this year's Armed Forces celebration the first full-scale event to take place since 2019.

This year, the event starts on the Saturday morning at 10am with an impressive military vehicle convoy display on Weymouth Pavilion’s forecourt, joining a variety of ex-service associations and charity stalls on Weymouth Seafront.

From 11am to 3pm, there will be a tribute to the forces with a sing-along featuring popular vocal group The Decadettes. At 3.30pm the military vehicle convoy will then start their engines and parade along Weymouth Seafront.

On the Sunday at 11am, an open-air service will take place at the Cenotaph on Weymouth seafront followed by a parade of veterans along the Esplanade, and historic military vehicles. Band performances will take place in the afternoon together with a display of the historic vehicles.

The celebrations conclude on Monday, June 20, at 10.30am with a flag raising ceremony.

Cllr Ann Weaving, Deputy Mayor of Weymouth said: “We are honoured that the Ministry of Defence has recognised Weymouth’s Armed Forces celebrations as a flagship event, and we are grateful for the generous grant of £10,000 which will go towards putting on an event of this scale.

“After having to scale back the celebrations due to the pandemic, we’re delighted to be able to reintroduce the full event this year. We look forward to welcoming hundreds of veterans and their families to the town, filling the hotels and guest houses and recognising the incredible work that our armed forces have contributed to our country.”

A council spokesperson added: “Veterans have made and continue to make a major contribution to our nation. The Weymouth Armed Forces Day Celebrations is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the tireless work carried out by veterans and their associations.”