THE start of Armed Forces Week on the Isle of Wight was marked with a flag-raising ceremony.

Civic leaders and councillors, including the Isle of Wight Council's Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Ian Dore, together with council vice-chairman, Cllr Vanessa Churchman, Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Nicolas Oulton and Isle of Wight High Sheriff Graham Biss, gathered for a ceremony held at County Hall, Newport, on Monday (June 24).

Representatives from the Island's emergency services were also in attendance, with Cdt Cpl Chloe Stemmet, handed the honour of raising the union flag. 

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Armed Forces Day is an annual event, celebrated in June, to commemorate the men and women, past and present, serving, or who have served, in the British Armed Forces.

The council also took the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to honour the Armed Forces Covenant, which sets out the authority’s relationship with the Armed Forces, together with the services available to current and former personnel and their families.

National Armed Forces Week — between June 24-29 — culminates in Armed Forces Day on Sunday, 30 June when a flurry of activities will take place along Ryde Esplanade, including a Red Arrows flyover, a parachute display, a parade and much more.