Havering Council Armed Forces Day Parade 2026; Havering, 2026

Key Points

• Havering Council will raise the Armed Forces flag above Town Hall on Monday 22 June 2026 to mark Armed Forces Week 2026
• The borough’s main Armed Forces Day parade takes place Saturday 27 June 2026, starting at 10.30am on South Street/Arcade Place in Romford and finishing at Town Hall
• Council has introduced a new Veterans Champion role since last month’s local elections, doubling its commitment to Armed Forces – councillor Luke Barry, himself a veteran, has taken on the responsibility
• The borough is home to over 5,000 veterans, including serving councillors, and supports cadet groups including 6F (Romford) Air Cadets and Hornchurch and Upminster Sea Cadets
• Royal British Legion and Havering Mind run dedicated support services for serving military, veterans and their families in Havering
• RAF Hornchurch, now decommissioned, played a pivotal role during the Battle of Britain in World War 2 – the councillor who wrote the statement is a member of 600 (City of London) Squadron based there
• Reserves Day falls Wednesday 24 June 2026, when Reservists will gather in front of Town Hall to recognise how troops balance civilian life with military career
• The parade will be marshalled by Yeomen Serjeant Jimmy James and led by Royal British Legion Band and Corps of Drums Romford, marching along South Street where salute is given to Mayor of Havering and Deputy Lieutenant
• Armed Forces Week 2026 runs 22–27 June nationally, culminating in Armed Forces Day on the last Saturday of June
• The national Armed Forces Day event in 2026 is hosted by Rushmoor Borough Council at Aldershot and Farnborough

Havering (East London Times) – June 22, 2026 – Havering Council is flying the Armed Forces flag above Town Hall today to mark the beginning of Armed Forces Week 2026 and show unwavering support for the borough’s Armed Forces community, from currently serving personnel to service families, veterans and cadets.

Why Is Havering Doubling Its Commitment To Armed Forces This Year?

Since the local election last month, the Council has doubled its commitment to the Armed Forces by introducing a new Veterans Champion role, according to the borough’s Member Champion for the Armed Forces as reported in The Havering Daily.

This allows the Council to give focused attention to both those who currently serve and to the veterans to whom the borough owes so much.

Cllr Luke Barry, himself a veteran, has taken on this responsibility and has already hit the ground running, as stated by the current Member Champion for the Armed Forces who was elected last month.

Cllr Barry was a Reform UK candidate in South Hornchurch in the Havering local election and describes himself as an Army Veteran, Community Policing volunteer and Father raised in South Hornchurch.

The council also commended the Member Champion’s predecessor Cllr Barry Mugglestone, especially in his role as Chairman of the Elm Park Royal British Legion, according to the statement.

Cllr Mugglestone, who is Cabinet Member for Environment and Deputy Mayor of Havering from the Elm Park ward, attended the Awards Ceremony for Reserve Forces and Cadets as Armed Forces Champion.

How Many Veterans Live In Havering And What Support Exists?

Havering is home to over 5,000 veterans, including a number of serving councillors, as reported by the Member Champion for the Armed Forces.

The borough has numerous cadet groups such as 6F (Romford) Air Cadets and the Hornchurch and Upminster Sea Cadets who would not exist without the terrific support of adult volunteers who provide inspiration and leadership to young people.

6F (Romford) RAF Air Cadet Squadron takes young people from aged 12 and in Year 8, and recently won the Cadet Award for the London Borough of Havering at the Havering Civic Awards.

Hornchurch and Upminster Sea Cadets is a uniformed organisation for young people aged 10 to 18 years, providing skills, knowledge and education through training and activities underpinned by the Marine Society and Sea Cadet curriculum with a Royal Naval ethos.

The borough is also home to many charities who support the armed forces including the Royal British Legion and Havering Mind who run a dedicated support service for serving military, veterans and their families, according to the statement.

Havering Mind’s Armed Forces Community Programme is a dedicated mental health and wellbeing support programme for the Armed Forces community including service personnel, veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, their partners and children, located in Hornchurch.

What Is The Historical Military Significance Of Havering?

Havering has a rich and proud local military history with the now decommissioned RAF Hornchurch playing a pivotal role during the Battle of Britain in World War 2, as stated by the Member Champion for the Armed Forces who is personally a member of 600 (City of London) Squadron.

RAF Hornchurch was designated as a fighter station equipped mainly with Spitfires and played a major role as a front line station during the Battle of Britain, with many famous pilots of the time flying from here.

During the Battle of Britain, Hornchurch pilots accounted for 205 German bombers and fighters destroyed and probably many more severely damaged, according to historical records from RAF Hornchurch.

The top scoring squadrons were 603 Squadron with 58 enemy destroyed and 41 Squadron with 45 enemy destroyed.

No. 600 ‘City of London’ Squadron was an Auxiliary Air Force squadron that spent most of the Second World War serving as a night fighter unit, first from the UK and later in the Mediterranean, as recorded in history of war archives.

Among the squadrons and pilots that flew from RAF Hornchurch during the Battle of Britain period were some of the most famous and highest scoring of the war, including the Spitfire equipped 41, 54, 65, 74, 222, 266, 603 and 611 Squadrons.

When And Where Will The Armed Forces Day Parade Take Place?

This Monday 22 June, the Armed Forces flag will be raised and fly high above Town Hall, according to the official statement from Havering Council.

On Reserves Day on Wednesday 24 June 2026, Reservists will be in front of the same building to recognise how troops balance civilian life with a military career, as stated by the Member Champion for the Armed Forces who is a Royal Air Force Reservist.

Finally this Saturday 27 June, Havering’s entire Armed Forces – Army, Navy, Air Force, Veterans, Cadets and their families – will parade through Romford, according to the council announcement.

This will be a momentous occasion marshalled by Yeomen Serjeant Jimmy James and led by the Royal British Legion Band and Corps of Drums Romford.

The parade will go along South Street where the salute will be given to the Mayor of Havering and the Deputy Lieutenant through the market and towards the Town Hall, as detailed in the official parade route description. Armed Forces Day 2026 takes place on Saturday 27 June 2026, the last Saturday of June, marking the end of a week of celebrations nationally.

Although there will be a Civic party headed by the Mayor observing the parade, the Member Champion for the Armed Forces personally feels that there is only one place they would rather be – and that is in uniform in the parade itself marching alongside their brothers and sisters, according to the statement.

Who Is The Member Champion For The Armed Forces And What Is Their Background?

It was the privilege of the current Member Champion for the Armed Forces last month to be elected as the borough’s Member Champion for the Armed Forces by fellow councillor colleagues, as reported in The Havering Daily.

As a Royal Air Force Reservist, they know what it means to serve and relish the opportunity to champion uniformed service personnel who serve King and Country throughout the year, according to their statement.

Armed Forces Week 2026 is a national campaign to build public understanding and support for the Armed Forces community – regulars, reserves, veterans, cadets, cadet adult volunteers and military families, running from 22–27 June 2026 nationally.

It culminates in Armed Forces Day on 27 June, this year featuring a national event hosted by Rushmoor Borough Council in Aldershot and Farnborough.

On behalf of all residents, to those who have given their service: Thank You, according to the concluding statement from Havering Council’s Member Champion for the Armed Forces.

What Is The Background Of This Armed Forces Development In Havering?

The London Borough of Havering is in East London, England and forms part of Outer London, serving over 90,000 residents according to the council’s official website.

The Council has a established Member Champion system for various community groups, with the Armed Forces Champion role being one of several member champion positions.

Veterans Champions are officials who have volunteered to help other veterans in their area get the support they need in civilian life, with all local authorities and NHS Health Boards within Scotland having a Veterans Champion since 2018, according to mygov.scot.

The role of an Armed Forces Veterans Champion is to help raise awareness about issues faced by the armed forces community, veterans and their families, make sure government policies are carried out so that veterans’ rights are protected, and help if priority treatment policy hasn’t been followed.

A Department for Work and Pensions employee from Havering, Michael Murray, received an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours in June 2026 for outstanding work supporting the Armed Forces community, helping veterans access benefits, pensions and employment support while breaking down barriers to work for those leaving military service, according to The Havering Daily.

The Royal British Legion is a UK charity providing help and welfare to the serving and ex-Service community and their families, and is one of the country’s largest membership organisations best-known as the nation’s custodian of Remembrance and for the annual Poppy Appeal.

Armed Forces Day is a chance to thank serving troops, veterans, reservists, cadets, and their families for all they do to keep us safe, taking place on the last Saturday of June annually.

How Will This Development Affect Havering’s Armed Forces Community And Residents?

The introduction of the new Veterans Champion role will give focused attention to both those who currently serve and to veterans, allowing the Council to address specific issues faced by the Armed Forces community more directly, according to the Member Champion’s statement.

This doubled commitment means veterans in Havering will have dedicated council representation to help navigate housing support, benefits, pensions and employment services.

For the over 5,000 veterans living in Havering, the new Veterans Champion role provides a direct point of contact within the Council for issues related to service discharge, civilian transition, and accessing veteran-specific support services. Cllr Luke Barry’s personal experience as an Army Veteran means he can provide informed guidance on challenges facing veterans in the borough.

The Armed Forces Day parade on 27 June provides currently serving troops, veterans, cadets, and service families in Havering with a public platform to demonstrate their contribution to the community, fostering greater public understanding and support for the Armed Forces community.

The participation of cadet groups including 6F (Romford) Air Cadets and Hornchurch and Upminster Sea Cadets gives young people in the borough opportunities for leadership development and connection to military heritage.

For Romford residents, the parade along South Street through the market towards Town Hall will create a community celebration bringing together local families with the Armed Forces community, though it may cause temporary disruption to market access and traffic on South Street during the 10.30am start time.

The flag raising ceremony on 22 June and Reserves Day events on 24 June provide additional opportunities for residents to show support for the Armed Forces community throughout the week.

The dedicated mental health support programme from Havering Mind for the Armed Forces community, including service personnel, veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, partners and children, means serving military and veterans in Havering have access to tailored mental health and wellbeing support including group support, practical strategies, one-to-one assessment and guidance. This complements the Council’s increased commitment through the Veterans Champion role.

The national Armed Forces Day event in Aldershot and Farnborough hosted by Rushmoor Borough Council provides Havering’s Armed Forces community with opportunities to connect with the wider national Armed Forces celebration, though local events in Romford remain the primary celebration for borough residents. The Armed Forces Covenant signing, which promises that no member of the Armed Forces community should face disadvantage at work or in the community as a result of their service, reinforces the Council’s commitment to supporting veterans and serving personnel.