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News release 5 September 2007                                     
For immediate release


Mayor Marks Half A Million Badges With Highest Ever Presentation Above Ground

The Mayor of Blackpool, Cllr Robert Wynne, has today marked the issue of the 500,000th HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge at a ceremony at the top of Blackpool Tower. Thought to be the ‘highest ever’ presentation of the Badges, the Mayor made awards to Fylde Coast veterans from Blackpool, Cleveleys and Stalmine, some 380ft above the ground.

Blackpool is the ‘home of the Veterans Badge’, with the extremely popular emblems being issued worldwide from the offices of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) at Norcross, in the north of the town.  Earlier this week, the milestone of issuing half a million badges was reached and the Blackpool Tower event is to celebrate this achievement.

The Mayor of Blackpool, Cllr Wynne said:
“Armed Forces Veterans deserve full recognition for the sacrifices they have made in the service of their country.  I am therefore delighted to be presenting badges to local veterans today.  As we celebrate the milestone of half a million badges being issued from Blackpool, what more fitting location could there be than the top of our town’s most famous landmark”.

Mr Gerry Mulrooney, SPVA Deputy Director of
Pensions said:
From our Blackpool offices and our other centres across the country, the SPVA provides help and support to anyone who has served in HM Armed Forces, whether young or old, male or female. I’d encourage anyone interested in applying for a Veterans Badge to call our veterans helpline on 0800 169 2277 as we might also be able to help with other problems or issues they have in life.

 

Speaking from London, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans, Derek Twigg said:
“Veterans deserve recognition and respect for their service to the nation and for the role they continue to play in their community. The HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge was launched in 2004 as a way of giving veterans some of that recognition. The success of the badge is plain to see and it is clear that our former Service personnel are proud to wear the badge and to call themselves veterans.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

1 - The Blackpool Tower event is to mark the milestone of issuing the 500,000th badge from Blackpool.  The half millionth badge itself was presented by Veterans Minister Derek Twigg, to Sonia Harford who served in the Royal Logistic Corps, also today, during a ceremony onboard HMS BELFAST in London

2 - Those receiving their badges today were:

3 - The Veterans Badge was launched in May 2004 for WWI and WWII veterans.  Since then its availability has been gradually extended to all those who served at any time up to 31 December 1994. 

4 - Blackpool has a long association with providing support for veterans, with Norcross also being the base for the national veterans helpline and the administration of the Government’s compensation schemes for those injured or killed in Service.  SPVA is a major employer in the town with some 600 employees involved with this work.

5 - Postal applications for the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge should be sent to Veterans Services, Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA), Norcross, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. Applicants should provide their name, address, date of birth, service number, period of service and theatres of service.

6 - Further information on the Veterans Badges, along with help and advice on any issue affecting veterans’ lives, can be obtained from the free veterans helpline 0800 169 2277 or website www.veterans-uk.info .

For Further Information

For further information, please contact David Johnson, Service Personnel and Veterans Agency communications, on 01253 333041, mobile 07717 882014.

 

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