Armed Forces Day flag raised at Scarborough ceremony

The first Royal Navy ship has arrived in Scarborough and taken part in the official flag-raising ceremony for the Armed Forces Day.

HMS Brocklesby carried the Armed Forces Day flag to Scarborough, which was then brought ashore and taken to the town hall for the formal flag-raising ceremony.

Commodore Phil Waterhouse, Royal Navy Regional Commander for the North of England, told Forces News the Armed Forces community "thrive… knowing that they've got the support of the community".

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"It's a real demonstration by the country that they've got not only pride in our Armed Forces, but, as we've seen over the past few years, that they can rely on us to turn our hand to almost anything," he said.

The crew of the Mine Counter Measures Vessel (MCMV) started their voyage in Hull, helping the city mark the commemorations of the 40th anniversary of the Falklands war.

As well as marching through the city centre, pausing to remember those who served in the conflict four decades ago, a group of local veterans then presented the crew of HMS Brocklesby with the Armed Forces Day flag,

Lieutenant Commander Matthew Teare, Commanding Officer, HMS Brocklesby, told Forces News it was a "huge honour" to transport the flag.

"To be part of the national event and taking the flag over to Scarborough is just a real privilege for the ship's company," he said.

Leaving Brocklesby on a RIB – a rigid inflatable boat – the Armed Forces Day flag completed the final leg of its journey at sea before a relay of Sea Cadets took it to the town hall.

HMS Brocklesby's primary purpose is to seek out and neutralise enemy mines, and she has a glass-reinforced plastic hull – one of the largest of its kind – helping to protect her.