June 5 – In less than three weeks, Newport will  host Wales National Armed Forces Day – an event that pays tribute to our past and present service people. 

Thousands of people are expected to flock to the city centre on Saturday 24 June for a packed programme which includes military activities; amazing aerial displays and commemorations for past heroes. 

The day will start at 10am with a parade of members of the armed forces, veterans, Royal British Legion standard bearers and army and RAF cadets from High Street to John Frost Square led by the Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of the Royal Welsh. 

The 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh mascot Lance Corporal Shenkin IV and Corporal Jones, mascot from the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards will accompany the parade. 

Afterwards, the leader of the council, Councillor Jane Mudd, will reaffirm the council’s support of the Armed Forces Covenant. 

At 11am, there will be a fly past by the Red Arrows while parachutists from the Tigers Army RAF Falcons display teams will be “dropping in”. All will be visible from the riverfront and are weather permitting. 

People will stop to remember a second world war tragedy at 12.45pm when a service will be held near the riverfront, by the theatre and arts centre, to commemorate HMS Turbulent. 

Eighty years ago, the Royal Navy submarine was sunk with the loss of its entire crew including its Newport-born commander John Wallace Linton, He was posthumously given the highest award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross. 

There will be another reminder of the bravery of our service people in the second world war when a lone Spitfire undertakes a Battle of Britain Memorial fly past at around 1pm. 

From 10am to 3pm, visitors can view military vehicles in the riverfront area while armed forces charities and organisations will have stalls in the Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre.