THE streets of Stirling will be filled with members of armed services past and present when the city hosts Armed Forces Day in June.

To the rousing music of the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland the Provost of Stirling Council, Mike Robbins, officially unveiled the programme for the day from Stirling Castle, the very location from which the festivities will commence.

On Saturday 28 June a parade of personnel from the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force supported by military bands will step off from the historic fortress, weaving their way through the streets of Stirling where they will be joined by 1,500 veterans en route to the events field.

Here a Drumhead Service will take place followed by an impressive gun salute from 105 Royal Artillery, the Army Reservist regiment responsible for all State Ceremonial gun salutes in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Celebrations will continue into the afternoon, including dynamic operational demonstrations featuring daring fast-ropes of Royal Marines from Sea King helicopters, close air support from the Royal Air Force and an Army Apache Helicopter, and a ground assault with casualty evacuations.

Combining the skills of high-octane flying and fast-roping, it promises to be a thrilling spectacle with a plethora of explosions. The events field will be filled with live and static displays of assets, including Military Working Dogs demonstrations, Royal Navy, Army, RAF marquees and a veterans village, and a model of super-carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the brand new Royal Navy ship soon to be official named by HM The Queen at Rosyth.

Naval aircraft will also be on display with a warfare Merlin helicopter and a Search and Rescue Sea King helicopter on the ground, with the crew on hand to share their knowledge and expertise with the public. Stirling Provost, Mike Robbins, said: “Stirling has very close historic links with Britain’s Armed Forces so we are tremendously proud to be hosting this fabulous event. It will be a truly spectacular day out for families – a real highlight of 2014. It is a superb chance for all of us to express our thanks to members of the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force – past and present – for the remarkable work they do for the whole of the United Kingdom.”