The former Detachment Commander of Basildon detachment was invited to Join the parade in Basildon town centre this year for Armed Forces Day. In previous years Army Cadets have parade with representatives of other services as well as veterans from the local area supported by the Royal British Legion and the Basildon Borough Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club.
This years parade was a scaled down affair due to the limits of the Covid-19 Pandemic, but this not stop upwards of 50 veterans including 101-year-old D-Day Veteran and Freedom of the Borough recipient, Don Sheppard from marching though the town centre.
With the veterans was a serving Soldier Engineer Anthony Woods a former Essex Lord Lieutenants Cadet from Basildon. And he is the son of Engineer's veteran Kevin Woods (also on the parade). ‘Sapper' Woods had the honour of raising the Armed Forces Day Flag on the parade. This was a moment of great pride for SMI Davis, who had previously been his detachment commander 4 years ago.
The marching troops were addressed and inspected by civic dignitaries in the town's St Martin's Square. All involved in the parade were thanked for their various service to the UK and it's Armed Forces.
SMI Davis, attending on behalf of the ACF was humbled to join this unusually small Armed Forces Parade. He was proud to represent the cadet forces and pleased to speak with both local council members and MP's who confirmed they can't wait to attend face to face ACF activities once the Covid restrictions have eased.
The excellent parade was closed with a blessing and prayer by a former Royal Navy Chaplin, Father Tim Brampton. Who is now priest in charge of St Martin’s Church Basildon and spoke of his time in the Armed Forces.
