Tendring District Council

08/30/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/30/2024 07:05

Council to pay tribute to emergency service workers, Merchant Navy sailors and Battle of Britain heroes

Tendring District Council (TDC) will be paying tribute to emergency service workers, Merchant Navy sailors and Battle of Britan heroes in the coming weeks.

The authority will mark Merchant Navy Day by flying the Red Ensign outside Clacton Town Hall on Tuesday, September 3.

The Ensign, the flag of the Merchant Navy, will be hoisted at a short ceremony - with the public welcome to attend to see the flag raised at 10am.

It will be followed by a reading by TDC Chairman Dan Casey, who is also President of Clacton Royal British Legion and the council's Armed Forces Champion.

TDC will then mark Emergency Services Day, also known as '999 Day', by flying a special flag at the Town Hall on Monday, 9 September.

999 day recognises the contribution made by the emergency services, including the police, fire, ambulance and HM Coastguard.

It also recognises the work done by volunteer responders, such as St John Ambulance, coastguard volunteers, RNLI volunteers, ambulance First Responders and Special Constables.

The authority will also be flying a special memorial flag to commemorate Battle of Britain Day on Sunday, 15 September, at Clacton Town Hall, 11am.

Councillor Casey will join veterans, councillors and others for a short ceremony before a flag is hoisted to remember the aerial conflict, which took place in 1940 as part of the Second World War.

Councillor Casey said: "The dedication of our Merchant Navy - and all of those who serve as part of it - must be recognised, while we are all grateful for the hard work of our emergency services.

"We will also remember the brave pilots of the RAF, famed by wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill as 'the few', who fought to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today.

"These ceremonies give us the chance to show our gratitude publicly - and I would welcome members of the public who would like to show their appreciation to join us."

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