Leeds Armed Forces Festival marches forward as Battle of Britain ‘ace’ honoured

The Leeds Armed Forces Festival is back for its third year with a range of military-themed activities, including Armed Forces Day on Sunday, June 28.

The festival, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, is a chance for everyone to show their support for the men and women who make up our armed forces community, from currently serving troops and service families, to reservists, veterans, and cadets.

Everyone in Leeds is invited to participate, and there is something to suit all tastes.

Highlights of the festival include the Lotherton Hall 1940’s weekend on June 20-21, and a new exhibition in the War Gallery of the Royal Armouries, where visitors can learn about the dedicated firefighters of the Second World War.

Other special events include a Commonwealth War Graves talk and various handling workshops in libraries, including a Barnbow munitions workshop at Crossgate Library. There will also be special First and Second World War displays at Leeds Museum, focusing on the home front.

One of the highlights of the festival will be Leeds Civic Trust’s unveiling of a new blue plaque in honour of ‘ace’ Battle of Britain pilot, Wing Commander John Freeborn DFC and Bar.

Above: Wing Commander John Freeborn DFC and Bar, as a Flight Lieutenant in 1941. Credit: Public domain image (restored by Leeds City Council communications team)

The Leeds-born pilot, one of Churchill’s ‘Few’, flew with 74 Squadron throughout the spring and summer of 1940, taking part in the air battles over the Dunkirk evacuation, before earning the distinction of flying more operational hours than any other Battle of Britain pilot.

After leaving 74 Squadron, he was posted to training and test pilot roles, before later serving as one of the RAF’s youngest Wing Commanders, flying operations in Italy in support of the Allied armies. Having flown forty-two different aircraft during his years of service, Wing Commander Freeborn left the RAF in 1946 to spend two years in the reserves.

The centrepiece of the festival will be the main Armed Forces Day event on Sunday, June 28.

The event will start with a parade through the streets of Leeds by military personnel, veterans, and cadets. The parade will leave Victoria Gardens (outside the Art Gallery) and culminate on Briggate, where the Lord Mayor will take the salute, all accompanied by the West Yorkshire Police band.

The day’s main activities will be on Briggate between 11am-4pm, and will be packed with family-friendly activities, parades, stalls, exhibitions, and music.

A fantastic range of family-friendly activities will include street entertainers, a climbing wall, and live entertainment throughout the day, with performances by the West Yorkshire Police Band, City of Leeds Pipe band, former “The Voice UK” contestant Rachel Modest, together with the ever-popular Daisy Belles.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Stephen Holroyd, said: “Armed Forces Day and the wider festival are a great opportunity for everyone in Leeds to say thank you to the men and women of the armed forces community, past, present, and future.

Leeds has a long tradition of supporting our armed forces in both war and peace, and it’s a tradition I look forward to continuing during my year as Lord Mayor.

“This year, we have a spectacular line-up of events, music, entertainment and learning sessions with something for everyone, and I look forward to seeing as many people at the different events as possible.”

For more information on the Armed Forces Festival and Armed Forces Day, visit: https://www.millsqleeds.com/leeds-armed-forces-day/