In just a few days our area will host an exciting local event, with the annual South Gloucestershire Armed Forces Day coming to Thornbury for the first time on Saturday, June 30.

This great celebration of our armed forces will begin at 10.30am and is part of a nation-wide initiative to honour our troops which is expected to attract thousands of people from all over the region.

The event celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year, and will also coincide with the centenary of the end of the WWI. It will be a unique opportunity for all of us local residents to honour the contribution made by our armed forces in the past, and support the wider Armed Forces Community today, including our amazing veterans, cadets, personnel, reserves and families.

The celebrations will include a parade along Thornbury High Street with cadets, veterans, military vehicles and marching bands, as well as a drumhead ceremony led by a local military Padre. Residents will be welcomed by a variety of stalls, displays, stands and activities for people of all ages on the Chantry field, where we’ll also find community-led stalls with food and drink, a climbing wall and local entertainers.

Local residents will join thousands of other attendees coming together to show support for our military and raise awareness of the work being done on our behalf by our forces.

This event, along with recently announced bursaries and funding to enable veterans to retrain as teachers and increases in Armed Forces mental health funding, make 2018 an important year for supporting and honouring our troops.

As a local man and your local MP I was committed to bringing such an important and successful event to our local area so I was delighted that following my suggestion, Thornbury is now for the first time an official venue for the event, which will rotate yearly across different parts of South Gloucestershire.

As a local resident I am proud our area will host this fantastic occasion and look forward to joining you all on the day.