People across the city are being encouraged to help mark Armed Forces Day and the end of the First World War centenary.

Different events are being held across the city to mark and celebrate the armed forces in 2018, up-coming events include:

HMS Sherwood Freedom of the City Parade – Saturday 2 June

One of the largest military parades seen in the city in recent years, 58 HMS Sherwood reservists, the East Midlands’ only Royal Navy Reserve unit will be joined by Sea Cadets, veterans and The Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth. Parading through the city with military drums are beating, the colours are flying and the reservists’ bayonets are fixed.

Mercian Regiment Museum – Sunday 1 July

Prior to Nottingham Castle closing for re-development and a region-wide tour for the museum, there will be free admission to the Mercian Regiment museum at Nottingham Castle on the Armed Forces weekend on Sunday 1 July.

Along with these events, as part of plans to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, a new memorial in Memorial Gardens on Nottingham’s Victoria Embankment dedicated to Nottinghamshire’s Great War dead will see work commencing in time for the Armistice centenary this November.

Over 14,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and civilians from the city and the county lost their lives in the First World War, and the monument will be the first to incorporate a roll of honour for the whole county, rather than a city, town, village or workplace.

Nine councils have commissioned the memorial but £50,000 is still to be raised and it’s hoped the public can help contribute to such an important monument. Local businesses and residents are being encouraged to make a donation, through Nottingham Open Spaces Forum here – https://nosf.org.uk/roll-of-honour.html

Four designs by three different artists are being considered and people can see the plans here – www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/warmemorial

People are also being asked to submit names for the memorial. This can include not only the names of those who served and died in military service, but also the names of the people who died as a result of the war, like those on the home front or in bombings. People can check on the Roll of Honour website – www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/rollofhonour –  to see if the names they want to submit are already there, if not they will need to submit their names by the 31 May 2018 and they will then be included on the new monument. Just email –missingnames@outlook.com

Cllr Brian Grocock, Armed Forces Champion for Nottingham City Council, said: “The Forces have played a major part in our history. Many men and women from the city have served bravely and families across Nottingham have parents and grandparents who sacrificed so much to give us the freedom we enjoy today. 

Armed Forces Day will be a chance to celebrate that work and to say our own personal ‘thank-you’. I would encourage local communities to get involved and mark the day. As a city we are very proud of our links with the armed forces and I hope many people from the city will take the opportunity to show their support.”

People are also being encouraged to hold their own community events around the weekend of Armed Forces Day (Saturday 30 June) or in between 1 – 11 November to mark the WW1 Armistice centenary.

The council is offering five funding grants of £1,000 each for groups to stage community events so people can get involved in these important occasions.

Community groups wishing to register their interest and to receive details of the application process should email nottinghamevents@nottinghamcity.gov.uk