Council pays tribute to our Armed Forces in Aylesbury

The events mark the beginning of Armed Forces Week celebrations for 2020.

The ceremonies took place on Monday 22 June at The Old County Hall in Aylesbury and the Council Offices on Queen Victoria Road in High Wycombe.

Usually there are many Armed Forces Day events planned all over the UK, including one in Bucks. This year, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, these have had to be postponed or adapted to follow social distancing guidelines.

At the Aylesbury ceremony , Buckinghamshire Council Chairman councillor Richard Scott was joined by the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, Andrew Farncombe, Group Captain Katherine Wilson (RAF Halton) , Cadet RSM Alice Burgham, (Bucks ACF), councillor Martin Tett - Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, councillor Mimi Harker - Deputy Armed Forces Champion and the Mayor of Aylesbury councillor Mike Smith.

At the High Wycombe ceremony, the Chairman was joined by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher , Wing Commander Jon McMahon (RAF High Wycombe), councillor Maz Hussain, Mayor of Wycombe , councillor Martin Tett, councillor Ian McEnnis, Armed Forces Champion and Cadet FS Ben Wober (Bucks ATC).

Councillor Scott spoke of the amazing support our Armed Forces give us in their day to day work and particularly now during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Sir Henry and the High Sheriff led prayers which spoke of the sacrifice made by current serving forces' personnel, and those who have served before, of the courage shown by their families and the efforts of reservists and young cadets.

22 June was both the day that France effectively surrendered to Germany in 1940, and a year later, the day Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa – the invasion of the Soviet Union, arguably sealing his fate in eventually losing the Second World War.