Flag flown to signal Armed Forces Day countdown

Glasgow's Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren will join military personnel in George Square to witness the Armed Forces Day Flag being flown from the City Chambers at 10.30 am on Monday 19 June 2023 to mark the start of Armed Forces Week.

It will be followed by a special ceremony in the City Chambers at 11.15 am to observe the formal handover of the city's affiliation from the Royal Navy Ship HMS Defender to the new HMS Glasgow currently docked at BAE Systems' yard at Scotstoun where the work to fit the ship out is being completed.

At the flag raising in George Square the Lord Provost, in her role as Lord Lieutenant, will welcome Brigadier Andy Muddiman, (Naval Regional Commander Scotland and Northern Ireland); Lt Col Rachel Emmerson Commanding Officer, Glasgow and Strathclyde University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) (Army) and a representative of the Royal Air Force, to the city for the flag raising ceremony.

It signals the city's forthcoming Armed Forces Day (AFD) which will be held in George Square on Saturday 24 June.

The Lord Provost said: "Glasgow City Council is a long-time supporter of the armed forces. We were the first local authority in Scotland to hold an Armed Forces Day and Glasgow is always keen to demonstrate its continuing commitment to our military personnel, past and present. Armed Forces Week is a way to show our appreciation for their work defending our freedoms and our values.

"I'm also thrilled to underline that commitment by welcoming Scotland's highest ranking naval officer Brigadier Andy Muddiman to witness Commander Peter Evans of HMS Defender formally hand over his ship's affiliation with the City of Glasgow to Commander Philip Burgess, Senior Naval Officer of our new ship, HMS Glasgow, at a special signing ceremony.''

Brigadier Muddiman said: "Armed Forces Day is about recognising the important role our service personnel play in keeping our country safe and enabling the way of life we all enjoy as a result. I'm glad to be able to attend the Raising of the Armed Forces Day Flag here in Glasgow. It's a reminder that next weekend, on 24th June, we are celebrating these efforts with a series of events across the UK. Giving the public an opportunity to meet serving members of the Armed Forces and find out a bit more about their work on behalf of the United Kingdom."

Commander Evans said: "HMS Defender has finally returned to her second home and affiliated city of Glasgow. A place that both I, and the ship's Company are eager to visit and enjoy. Defender was, of course, built in Glasgow and we have a number of sailors who call this city home.

"Defender has been busy since her last visit, and it is testament to the engineering prowess of the ship builders here in Glasgow that we have completed missions all over the world, from the equator to the arctic. We have a great reputation at home and with our allies, and it is in part due to the strong support we get from our affiliated city and organisations.

"We are very shortly proceeding to upkeep for a well-deserved rest and deep maintenance. Now, with HMS Glasgow taking form, we will formally handover our affiliations to her."

Commander Burgess said: "It is with great pleasure that the affiliation previously held by HMS Defender now fully passes to the 9th Royal Navy Ship which bears the name of the city."