Events have taken place at each of Royal Star & Garter’s Homes to mark Armed Forces Day.

Dignitaries and military bands were at the charity’s three Homes, in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe, as part of the celebrations.

Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia. The charity has also launched new services reaching out into the community.

Armed Forces Day took place on Saturday 29 June, and is a chance to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community, from currently serving personnel to service families, veterans and cadets.

All Homes were decorated with bunting, and residents helped raise special Armed Forces Day flags.

In High Wycombe, staff attended an Armed Forces Day party in the town centre on Saturday 22 June. The Home then held its own event on Friday, 28 June. Among dignitaries attending was The Mayor of Wycombe, Cllr Nathan Thomas, Deputy Mayor and Chair of the High Wycombe Royal British Legion branch Tony Green, and Buckinghamshire Council Chair Cllr Mimi Harker OBE. Residents were treated to a barbecue and later enjoyed a tea party with live music entertainment. Guests from RAF High Wycombe also spent time chatting to veterans at the Home.

‘Always a pleasure and an honour’

After attending, the Mayor of Wycombe said he was honoured to spend Armed Forces Day at Royal Star & Garter. He said: ”I was delighted to talk to some of the veterans and their partners to hear about their stories. I was impressed by the level of care and duty that staff have for the veterans at Royal Star & Garter, and the deep compassion that they show.” And Buckinghamshire Council Chair Cllr Mimi Harker OBE, said: “It is always a pleasure and an honour to attend events at this wonderful residential home for our Armed Forces veterans. It is a haven of peace, tranquillity and respect for the service given by the residents, to our country. We thank them for that service and we forever owe them a debt of gratitude for their sacrifices which have given us the freedom we enjoy today.”

The Surbiton Home also held its Armed Forces Day celebrations on Friday 28 June, with the 20-piece brass British Imperial Military Band performing for veterans. Residents at the Home received HM Armed Forces Veterans Badges in recognition of their military service, and enjoyed a special lunch.

Solihull celebrated Armed Forces Day on Saturday 29 June with a talk about WWII. There was also live music in both the morning and afternoon, and residents later tucked into specially made Armed Forces cakes.

Royal Star & Garter is welcoming new residents. For more information on this, the new services it provides, or to work at the charity, go to www.starandgarter.org