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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:
- Moreen Royle from Thornton who served as a nurse in the Auxiliary Service between 1944 and 1945.
- Mr Jack Swann from Blackpool who served in the Royal Engineers from 1960 to 1962.
- Mr Jack Greenwood from Stalmine who served in the Royal Air Force and later Royal Navy between 1943 and 1946.
- Mr Tony Fitzgerald from Blackpool who served in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers from 1965 to 1972
- Mr Dil Gurung from Blackpool who served in the Brigade of Gurkhas.
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.
