Thousands of people flocked to the Scarborough seafront this weekend to publicly show their support and appreciation for service personnel, their families, cadets, and veterans.
Under clear blue skies on Saturday, spectacular aircraft took to the skies while marching bands performed along the promenade, drawing huge crowds of all ages from far and wide. Hosted by North Yorkshire Council as part of its ongoing commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, the event was sponsored by the Skipton Building Society for the second consecutive year.
North Yorkshire Council Chair, Cllr David Chance, officially hosted the event, which ranks as one of the largest of its kind anywhere in the country, alongside the authority’s Armed Forces Champion, Cllr Kevin Foster.
Cllr Chance said: “It was an absolutely fantastic day for Scarborough with thousands of people coming together and showing their support for our service personnel, cadets and veterans and recognising the sacrifices of their families.
“The atmosphere was nothing short of inspiring. From the spectacular air displays, flypasts, marching bands to the parades and performances along the seafront, the whole event was a powerful reminder of the pride and gratitude our communities feel.”
Crowds along the coast were treated to a packed schedule of five breathtaking air displays, headlined by a high‑energy, high‑speed performance from an RAF Typhoon and a flypast from an RAF Chinook.
On the ground, the day featured traditional military marches, band displays, presentations, and live music throughout the afternoon. Highlights included parades by the Scarborough Sea Cadets and local veterans, alongside formal standards and cadets’ processions led by the Queen’s Own Yeomanry and the Yorkshire Volunteers Band. This year’s event also marked a special milestone, featuring a guest display by the iconic Chelsea Pensioners in their first-ever appearance at Scarborough Armed Forces Day.
Commodore Thomas Knowles, Naval Regional Commander for Northern England and the Isle of Man, served as the event’s saluting officer. He commented: “It has been a privilege to join the celebrations in Scarborough today and to see such strong public support for our armed forces community. Saturday’s turnout reflects the deep respect and gratitude people feel for those who have served, are serving and will be serving in the future.”
North Yorkshire holds a uniquely vital role in the defence of the nation, boasting more than 12,000 people who work directly for the Ministry of Defence, alongside 3,000 children from service families currently in local schools. Catterick Garrison, located within the county, stands as one of the UK’s largest military bases, with additional barracks operating at Dishforth, Ripon, and Topcliffe. The region is also home to major Royal Air Force stations at Leeming, Fylingdales, and Menwith Hill, as well as the Harrogate-based Army Foundation College.
