A MAJOR celebration of 100 years of the Royal Air Force will be staged in the city this weekend with the sounds of wartime and a parade through the streets of Worcester both on offer.
As part of the RAF100 series to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the RAF, the Worcester and District Branch of the Royal Air Forces Assocation has organised two events on Saturday and Sunday.
The Swan Theatre will welcome the Royal Air Forces Association Concert Band under the direction of musical director Peter Skellon BEM for an evening of song, supported by Worcestershire County Council, on Saturday from 7.30pm.
‘Music in the Air’, an evening of well-loved favourites and much more in support of the association’s Wings Appeal will kick off a weekend of celebrations in the Faithful City and tickets are £15 or £12 for concessions to include serving personnel and ex servicemen and women.
Visit www.worcesterlive.coluk or call the Box Office on 01905 611427 for more information.
The following day will see more than 400 blue uniformed troops take to the city’s streets for the ‘Painting Worcester Light Blue’ parade from the Corn Market to Worcester Cathedral via Mealcheapen Street and the High Street with the salute taken at the Guildhall.
The march will start at 1pm with the Cathedral service beginning at 2pm.
Members of the West Mercia ATC Band will lead the march followed by the Standards of the Royal Air Forces Associations and marching contingents comprising serving RAF personnel from RAF Cosford, Air Cadet Units from the combined West Mercia Wing Air Training Crops and many ex-RAF and WRAF veterans will be taking part.
Branch chairman, John Mason, said: “It is fitting Worcester has been chosen in recognition of the vital part contributed to the war effort in the environs of Worcestershire during the Second World War and after with RADAR, at such renowned sites as those in Malver, RAF Defford and RAF Pershore.”
The Royal Air Forces Association has branches throughout the Commonwealth and offers friendship, help and support to the RAF family which includes current and former serving RAF personnel, their spouses, widows, widowers and other dependents.
“These events are a vital part of the RAF association’s presence in the Worcestershire area and the funds we raise throughout the year in ‘The Wings Appeal’ are used to continue our positive work in the community,” he added.
E-mail [email protected] or call 01905 830682 for more on the branch.
