Councillors were honouring our servicemen and women (From Salisbury Journal)

Councillors were honouring our servicemen and women

10:18am Thursday 19th July 2012 in Letters

I was disappointed to read A Arnold’s comments in his letter (Journal Postbag July 12) about this year’s Armed Forces Day. This national event, celebrated locally, is an opportunity to pay tribute to the men and women, past and present, of our armed forces.

It is absurd to suggest this year’s celebration was ‘an outing for the mayor’s appreciation society’. The ‘council officials in their robes’ were elected councillors who, by their very presence, were honouring our servicemen and women across the city. Also present was one of the deputy lieutenants of Wiltshire and the current General Officer Commanding of 3 Division, General Lorimer.

Sandwiched as it was between the Diamond Jubilee festivities and the Olympic Torch relay event, our Armed Forces Day was planned, by the city council and the Salisbury Branch of the Royal British Legion working together.

We jointly agreed that 2012 would be a relatively modest affair and a more ambitious celebration is already being planned for 2013. Given his obvious dissatisfaction with the last two Armed Forces Day celebrations, I cordially invite Mr Arnold to contact me to arrange a meeting in the Guildhall in order to discuss any constructive and practical ideas he may have for future events.

CLLR JOHN COLLIER, Mayor of Salisbury