Two local veterans of World War Two were among the veteran and current Armed Forces personnel thanked for their service at a unique celebration marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day in Armed Forces Week.
Thirteen veterans whose service spanned 155 years – within every decade over 80 years, across the Army, Navy, Royal Air Force and Merchant Navy, as a Reserve or regular, and in multiple specialities – were awarded their Veterans’ Badge through North Kesteven District Council’s annual celebration.
Harry Parkins, aged 100, flew 47 operations in the final months of World War Two, exclusively in Avro Lancasters, the last of which was on VE Day itself, dropping food to the starving Dutch on Operation Manna. Later that same night he met his wife in the festivities of May 8 1945 at Lincoln’s Stonebow, which led to him continuing in the RAF until 1954, in order to stay in Lincolnshire.
In advance of the North Kesteven Veterans Lunch, Harry was presented with his Veteran’s Badge at the International Bomber Command Centre by District Council Leader Cllr Richard Wright. An integral member of the Bomber Command community, a sense of his experiences is included in the interpretation panels alongside the IBCC’s current Lancaster Poppies installation running to the end of August.
Cllr Wright said Harry exemplified the spirit of his age, not only playing an important role in the liberation of Europe, but giving selflessly, heroically and consistently for the welfare and safety of others.
He said that having done so for around 20 years, North Kesteven District Council would continue to honour all veterans, always.
“As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war, in a renewed period of international unrest, our gratitude to service men and women right across the decades holds a greater significance. But we don’t need a 0 or a 5 in an anniversary year, to commemorate our veterans and will be doing so in the 81st, 82nd and 83rd years since VE and VJ Day and all years to come’.
“Commemorating the role of the Armed Forces, and celebrating the individuals of that community – whether that’s serving personnel, veterans, or their partners, children, and wider families – is important to us here in North Kesteven, where we have the second largest population of veterans in the UK, and a significant number of military families living in communities across the District. We appreciate deeply the contribution they all make to life locally and the additional pressures that comes with such unsettled and transitory lives.”
In recognition of the consideration shown by the District Council as an employer, in going above and beyond its Armed Forces Covenant commitments to advocate for service personnel and show ‘exceptional support to the armed forces community, including reservists, veterans and military families’ it has just been awarded the Ministry of Defence’s Silver Award.
Station Commander of RAF Cranwell, Wing Commander Matthew Thornton said Armed Forces Week was a ‘fantastic opportunity to say thank you to our local communities for their steadfast support, friendship and understanding’.
He told the 100-or-so attendees at the flag-raising ceremony in Sleaford Market Place, “We can only do what we do with your continued and unwavering support. We do our jobs knowing that you look after our families when perhaps we cannot. Today, with 8,200 sailors, marines, soldiers and aviators deployed overseas, with countless more working tirelessly at home, I thank you on their behalf for your incredible support.”
With the world becoming increasingly turbulent, Armed Forces Week events such as the lunch and public flag-raising organised by the Council, service and veteran organisations had ‘never been more important,' he said.
The lunch was again attended by D-Day veteran Les Budding, a month before his 100th birthday. It also held special significant for compere Howard Leader who – after announcing the details of many badge recipient veterans over the years – received his own Veteran’s Badge in recognition of his 25 years as an RAF Reservist. The former ‘Allo ‘Allo actor, That’s Life! presenter and BBC Lincolnshire personality has contributed extensively to communications activities as a part-time volunteer, becoming Wing Commander in command of the RAF Media Reserves and 7644 Sqn.
A presentation was also made to Eva McCarthy, a Year 7 student at Robert Pattinson Academy whose poster design was the Key Stage 3 and overall winner in a competition on the theme of the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day that drew 104 entries.
This year, Veteran’s Badges were presented to:
- Graeme Cooke – Royal Air Force, 1971 to 2007, with a further nine years as a Reserve;
- Tracy Cooke – Royal Air Force, 1996;
- Arthur Clark – Royal Navy, 1947 to 1955;
- Marc Hollinshead – Royal Air Force, 1990 to 2000;
- Michael Kennedy – Royal Air Force, 1961 to 1973;
- Howard Leader – Royal Air Force Reserves, 2000 to 2025;
- Peter Lythgoe – Army Parachute Regiment, 1962 to 1972;
- Keith MacKenzie – Royal Air Force, 1987 to 1995;
- Colin Parkin – Royal Air Force Police, 1972 to 1978;
- Harry Parkins – Royal Air Force, 1943 – 1954
- David Scholefield – Marchant Navy, 1960 to 1967;
- Jayne Skinner – Royal Navy, 1989 to 1996;
- Patricia (Kris) Utting – Women’s Royal Army Corps. 1970 to 1971.
There is an ongoing opportunity for communities to apply for a grant of up to £500 to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.
Applications can be made up to July 21 for up to £500 to support activity focused on VJ celebrations and commemorations within a week either side of VJ Day on August 15. Activity must be of benefit to North Kesteven residents. See www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/funding
