The Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Mrs Kate Moreton-Deakin was the guest of Honour at the Spenborough Branch event for UK Armed Forces Day on Saturday 24 June 2017.

Once again the event was well attended, as the Deputy Lieutenant was escorted from the north west corner of the Memorial Park to the War Memorial in procession, with the Spenborough and Heckmondwike standards and escort, to a slow march of The Royal Marines.

A short welcome address was given by The Branch Chairman (and Parade Marshall) Mr Eddie Morton and prayers were delivered by Father Nicholas Hird of St Pauls Roman Catholic Church. Father Nicholas was standing in for our Branch Chaplain Terry Brewis who was in attendance and recovering from an operation.

As a mark of remembrance, the Branch Chairman gave the Exhortation and following The Last Post, One Minutes Silence and Reveille, the Kohima Epitaph.

The Deputy Lieutenant, Mrs Kate Moreton-Deakin outlined in her address the gratitude of us all for the work done by our Armed Forces and the ongoing work of The Royal British Legion in caring for the welfare of both our veterans and serving men and women.

We were particularly pleased to welcome as part of our event, cadets from The Spen Valley Air Training Corps 2490 and Army Cadets from the Spen Detatchment, who acted as wreath bearers.

Wreaths were laid by the Deputy Lieutenant of behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, Branch Member Mr Derek Wynn on behalf of The Royal British Legion, Mrs Sandra Garstang on behalf of The Women's Section and by the Chairman of the Heckmondwike Branch of The Legion, Mr Wayne McDonald.

The Branch is again indebted to St Pauls, for use of their church hall to serve refreshments and of course, to the ladies of The Women's Section for their provision.