Major RAF Centenary Event to be Held in Bangor Saturday, 8 September 2018

As part of a programme of events in Wales to commemorate and celebrate the RAF Centenary, the city of Bangor will be hosting a major RAF parade and flypast on Saturday 8 September. The event will be one of the closing RAF Centenary events and is intended to recognise the strong links that North Wales has had with the RAF over its last 100 years.

For Bangor, these connections go back to the very beginning of the RAF, when we had an “RAF Bangor” in operation in 1918, with Number 244 Squadron flying Airco DH6 aircraft from Abergwyngregyn, carrying out anti U Boat patrols in the Irish Sea. Although RAF Bangor was closed shortly after the end of World War 1, this remains a unique and special connection for the city of Bangor to commemorate as the RAF celebrates its centenary in 2018. And today, the strong connections between Bangor and the RAF continue, with RAF Valley having been granted the Freedom of the City since 23 March 1974.

On Saturday 8 September, the RAF Centenary celebrations will come to Bangor, with personnel from RAF Valley, as Freemen of the City of Bangor, marching through the streets of the city. They will be joined by the Central Band of the RAF, together with a number of Air Cadets from squadrons across North Wales.

The morning will begin with a special RAF Centenary Cathedral Service, commencing at 0945 am, to which all members of the public are welcome to attend. At 11.15am. the RAF parading contingent will present arms at the War Memorial, which will include a flypast by Hawk aircraft from RAF Valley. There they will be welcomed to the City by His Worship the Mayor of Bangor, the Lord Lieutenants of Gwynedd and Clwyd together with VIPs and guests from across North Wales. The senior RAF Officer at the parade will be Air Marshal Michael Wigston, who was himself brought up in Bangor and was a pupil at Friar’s School.

At approximately 11.40am the Parade will step off from the War Memorial to exercise the Freedom, marching past the Cathedral and turning left down the City’s High Street. At the Town Clock the Mayor, the Lord Lieutenants and Air Marshal Wigston will take the salute. The Parade will then proceed down the High Street to Dean Street, and then fall out at around 12.00pm.

The Mayor of Bangor, Councillor John Wynn Jones said “Both Bangor and many other areas across North Wales have strong links with the RAF over many years and Bangor is honoured to be the host of this prestigious RAF Centenary event. With the RAF marching through the streets of Bangor it gives the public the opportunity to show their appreciation for the loyalty, dedication and excellent service that the RAF have given over the last 100 years, and the many RAF personnel who have lost their lives over this time. The fly past by Hawk aircraft from RAF Valley and the spectacular and colourful Parade, will be a memorable event and well worth witnessing. Everybody from Bangor and beyond should make an effort to come and be part of the celebrations.”