Biggest Military Parade in living memory

Event - March for Mansfield's Heroes
Date and time - 13th December, 2009 - 11.15am - 1.00pm
Where - Market Place, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire

This Sunday will see the biggest Military Parade to hit Mansfield in living memory. Over 250 uniformed men, cadets and ex-service men and women will march into town to celebrate the actions of the people of Mansfield and district in raising funds to establish a permanent memorial to those who have given their lives in recent conflicts.

The Parade, will be led by the Seaforth Highlanders Pipe and Drum Band which will be followed by Forces personnel from the Mercian Regiment, RAF Wittering, RAF Odiham, The Territorial Army, Cadets from the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force, five branches of the Royal British Legion with Standards flying, Royal Marines Ex-Servicemen, RAF Ex-servicemen, Signals Ex-servicemen, the East Midlands Royal Green Jackets Association and the Armed Forces Pension Group.

They will be followed by 250 family and friends who wish to show their support for the campaign and the fallen from the town.

The Parade will be leaving the Sir John Cockle at 11.15/20 and will head into town down Sutton Road, along Stockwell Gate and into the Market Place. The Seaforth Highlanders, the Pleasley Colliery Welfare Band and the Mansfield District Male Voice Choir will entertain the crowd with a performance at around mid-day.

Speeches will be made by Deborah Smalley who lost her son in Afghanistan in 2007, The Mayor of Mansfield, Tony Egginton and Lt Col Keith Seddon MBE BEM of the Mercian Regiment.

Several thousand people are expected to attend the event, lining the streets and filling the Market Place.

“We honestly don’t think Mansfield will have seen anything like this Parade for a very long time. We are urging anyone who wants to see the Parade and the mini-concert in the Market Place to be in place in the Town Centre early to make sure they get a good view and join in the celebration and commemoration,” said a Heroes Campaign spokesman

“The people from and around Mansfield have been fantastic in how they have supported the Heroes Campaign. Individuals, pubs, clubs businesses and all sorts of groups have dug deep to support us. We have a target of £20,000 to hit by Sunday and we hope that people will turn out on the day to push us over the line. The Heroes Campaign has really connected with people and they have done some amazing things, from the sponsored walk from Crich, to parachute jumps, to 12 hour fitness challenges and musical concerts.

“I feel incredibly proud to have been associated with the Heroes Campaign. It will mean a lot to me to see Damian’s name on the memorial, just as it will to his young son Joshua. It just goes to show what the people of Mansfield can achieve when they want to. We just need to ask for one more push to get us there and we know the people of Mansfield can do that,” said Deborah.

Damian and his son Joshua are featured on this years Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal posters and have been seen all over the country as a result.

The Mansfield' Heroes Memorial Fund was launched on October 21st with an aim to raise £20,000 by this Sunday. The organisers hope to announce having hit that target during the Military Parade.


Ends

Notes to Editors:

You are invited to send a reporting crew to attend the Military Parade. A section of the parade ground in the Market Place has been set aside for film, radio and photographic crews. On arrival in the Market Place please contact Jamie Newton, one of the organisers wearing a high vis vest.

Pre-event interviews can be arranged with Deborah Smalley and others by calling Graham Parker of Parker PR on 07977 448 306

Media and news teams are welcome to attend on the day. Interviews will be held after the event in the Market Square. To pre-book an interview call Graham Parker of Parker PR on 07977 448 306


For more information about the Mansfield Heroes Memorial Fund visit www.mansfields-heroes.org.uk