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Victoria Square & Centenary SquareOver the weekend of the 5th & 6th July Birmingham will be celebrating Veterans Day and hosting the City of Birmingham Pipe Bands Championships on 6th July. Events will take place on Saturday 5th July between 11 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. Veterans are invited to take part in the Veterans Parade down Broad Street on Sunday 6th July at 4.30 p.m.
On the 27th June, National Veterans Day itself, the Lord Mayor Of Birmingham, Cllr Chaudhdry Rashid, will lead a ceremony in the Hall of Memory when names will be added to the Book of Remembrance. There will also be a Veterans Badge Ceremony, in the Council House. The Lord Mayor said:"We have so much planned over this busy weekend of celebrations - there really will be something for everyone. It will be a fantastic opportunity for people across the city - both young and old to come together and celebrate and recognise with gratitude the considerable contribution veterans have made to the country."
As part of the celebrations a Veterans' Village will be created within the City Centre, made up of the Tri Services and the TA as well as Veterans themselves. The village will have the theme of past, present and future.Around Victoria and Chamberlain Squares there will be visual displays, photographs, military vehicles, trenches and entertainment. PAST: Birmingham PALS Living History Group will re-create a WWI Field Hospital in Victoria Square, with a medical simulation mannequin and a battlefield ambulance showing current medical equipment
PRESENT: The local Veterans' Associations such as Birmingham Air Raids Remembrance Association, and Royal British Legion, will have stalls at the event with displays and information about their organizations. FUTURE: 143 Brigade, AFCO Birmingham, 202 Field Hospital, 96 Signals TA Unit, plus the Royal Navy and RAF Recruitment Teams will also be in the Veterans' Village and will bring with them recruitment stands, climbing wall and paint balling. Plus the The Central Band of the Royal Air Force will give two 40 minute performances.(The band plays by permission of the Air Force Board of the Defence Council). Cadet Bands will also perform at the event.On Sunday 6th July Centenary Square will come alive between 12 noon - 4.00 pm with massed pipe bands competing for honours. This popular event will crown an overall winner. Pipe Bands and Veterans will then join together in a spectacular finale. At 4:30pm a huge parade led by massed Pipes will take place along Broad
Street to Centenary Square. Veterans from across the region will be encouraged to take part, with the Lord Mayor of Birmingham taking the salute.Entertainment will also be available on the beach in Chamberlain Square, between 12.00 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m and 7.00p.m both days. |
