Armed Forces Day was celebrated with a host of free family activities for the first time in two years.

Family Fun Day in association with Armed Forces Day - organised by Bicester Town Council and held at Pingle Field – took place on Saturday, June 25.

The event, which ran from 11am to 4pm, had to be shelved in both 2020 and 2021 in the midst of the coronavirus.

On the day, Bicester’s armed forces were recognised for their contribution with a showcase of military vehicles, re-enactments and stall displays of local military history prepared by Oxfordshire’s Home Guard.

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Bicester Fire Crew were also present, holding demonstrations.

Guests enjoyed a range of activities, including live performances, music, fairground rides, zorbing, inflatable football, face painting and community stalls.

The event also saw young people enter a fancy-dress competition.

Bicester’s food festival made its debut too, giving local food traders and artisan producers the chance to display their talents with food tasting and demonstrations.

Attendees got to try a range of sweet treats, specialist coffee, artisan breads, German sausages, oysters and seafood, sushi, Ghurka street food, Italian ice cream, locally brewed beer and more.

Mayor of Bicester, Alex Thrupp, said: “It was great to see the community come together at the Family Fun Day in association with Armed Forces Day.

“Especially as due to the pandemic we have been unable to do the event for the last two years.

“Service personnel and their families sacrifice a great deal in defence of our country, and a Town Mayor, on behalf of Bicester Town Council, I would like to very sincerely express our admiration and gratitude to all military personnel and their families.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1

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