Hundreds of people flocked to the city centre to attend Armed Forces Day celebrations last weekend. Mancunian Matters headed down to the festivities to meet the individuals who make up Manchester’s former and current service community.
It’s the last Saturday in June and there’s a feeling of immense patriotism in Manchester city centre.
Celebrations are in full swing – both in the city and across the nation – for Armed Forces Day, an event observed annually in the UK since 2006 to bring communities together in honouring service members, past and present.
Hundreds line the streets under the sunshine in St Peter’s Square – queueing for ice creams, and to have their photograph taken with artillery, as Manchester’s former and current service personnel march to the rousing music of the Lancashire Artillery Band.
Attending guests included the Lord Mayor of Manchester Councillor Carmine Grimshaw, Councillor Tommy Judge Leader Member for Armed Forces, and Deputy Lieutenant Carl Austin-Behan LGBT Advisor to the Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Live music was hosted by BBC Radio DJ Michelle Dignan, stalls from the NHS, the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, the Royal British Legion, and Manchester City Library.
The Lord Mayor of Manchester led a formal inspection of the parade, with other dignitaries – followed by a speech thanking Armed Forces members for the sacrifices they make both for Manchester and for the country and described their service as “the cornerstone of the freedoms we enjoy”.
There are an estimated 68,000 veterans in Greater Manchester – with ex-forces’ members making up 10% of the population, according to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
And 7,300 households in Manchester had at least one member who had served in the UK armed forces.
Mancunian Matters spoke to some of the attendees at the event representing this community…
“It’s very comforting to know that we are still getting a lot of support at home”
Joshua Renshaw is a Lance Corporal in the 4th Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.
He said: “I think it’s very important because a lot of servicemen and women – especially those on the frontline to be fair – who need a day to be celebrated, because we do give up a lot, and our families – and we are away a lot.
“It is quite a big sacrifice- so its nice to see so many people turning out to show their support especially with the way the world is at the moment it’s very comforting for us to know that we are still getting a lot of support at home.”
“The reality was a different thing”
Allan Mandindi, 45, is a veteran living in Ardwick.
Allan served in the British Army for five years with Royal Logistics Corp with deployments – Germany and Cyprus, and a six-month service tour of Afghanistan in 2010.
And he described his service in the British Army is his proudest life moment.
Allan said: “I was able to meet some amazing people and do amazing things and I travelled to so many places.
“I was in Germany for three years on my first posting, where I met some lovely people – and I went from there to a tour of of Afghanistan in 2010.
“It was challenging.
” If you go back and look at the news from that time – the reality was a different thing.
“But I learnt a lot from the experience.”
Allan said he left the army in 2013 after getting a scholarship that him set up for civilian life.
He now works for Manchester City Council as a neighbourhood officer.
Allan shared his thoughts on the day’s celebrations.
He added: “Armed forces day is a special day as it recognises the great commitment and sacrifice that service personnel, veterans contribute towards peace.
“It’s quite unique, seeing veterans and current Armed Forces members coming together with their families here today.
I’m happy, and I feel very proud to be a part of it.”
“If I was a cat I’d have used up all of my nine lives.”
Stephen Grummett, 57, has lived in Hyde since leaving the army – and served for 14 years in the Royal Irish Regiment.
He joined the military following the footsteps of his father.
Stephen said: “My father served for 22 years, so my progression into the Armed Forces was quite a natural one.
“He did four tours in Northern Ireland during the 70s.
“He definitely had PTSD following that.
“But PTSD just wasn’t considered a big deal at the time.”
After time in the fusiliers Stephen said he began a career in the Royal Irish Regiment because he wanted to help people.
He said: “When I joined Royal Irish Regiment I went out to Northern Ireland and spent 14 years serving there.
“I used to do a lot of patrolling in Belfast and along the Northern Irish border.
“That’s where a lot of IRA terrorists would try to come in – do a hit – and then go back into Ireland.
“That’s where most of these medals are from.”
Stephen said he had been fortunate – but his time was not without near misses.
“It was quite scary along the border.
“ I drove over a command wire to an a thousand pound bomb – which luckily didn’t go off.
“And I was shot at about four or five times.
“I was fortunate.
“But if I was a cat I’d have used up all of my nine lives.”
“I travelled all over the world, supporting the army”
Major Guy Booth has been the Director of music at the Lancashire Artillery Band based in Bolton since 2019.
The Lancashire Artillery Band are a group of 30 reservists supporting the frontline army who undertake engagements all around the UK in support of the reserves and the regular army.
Guy is a veteran and was leading the band’s performance at Manchester’s Armed Forces Day celebrations.
He said: “I joined the army in 1985 in the Welsh Guards Band and I had ten or 12 years in London doing state ceremonial for the late Queen.
“I moved around to different bands, became a director of music.
“I was in Germany, and although I was based in the UK we went to Afghanistan – and I travelled all over the world, supporting the army, the wider community, and also the political element of it as well.
Guy said he was enjoying seeing the celebrations in Manchester – despite the irony that he was working, rather than spending the day with his own family.
“Today’s celebrations definitely show recognition – and it’s always nice to see so many people wanting to be here and support, including the Lord Mayor.
“I would say as a nation we are better at recognising our service personnel than perhaps we were some years ago – which is really encouraging to see.”
But as the fanfare quietened – former RAF Serviceman Deputy Lieutenant Carl Austin-Behan, was a poignant reminder of the trauma and discrimination faced by servicemen in recent history.
Deputy Lieutenant Carl Austin-Behan
“I stand before you as a proud veteran.
“A veteran who once had to serve in silence,”
Deputy Lieutenant Austin-Behan is a community activist from north Manchester, and is the LGBT adviser to the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham.
He made history in 2016 as the youngest Lord Mayor of Manchester – and the first openly gay Lord Mayor in British history.
But Carl hasn’t always been able to live so openly.
“Before 2000, I, like many others, lived a double life – giving everything to my country while hiding a part of who I was.
“The fear of being found out was constant.
“But we served anyway with the same commitment and courage as our peers,” He said.
Carl became a Royal Airforce firefighter aged 19, and during his time in active service he demonstrated award-winning acts of bravery.
This earned him recognition from the highest offices – and after a Commander in Chief’s commendation he was acknowledged with a mention in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
But a short year after his landmark mention Carl was discharged from RAF service.
It was April 15 1997.
And under British law homosexuality was seen as ‘incompatible with service life’.
In interviews with CBC and Sky News- Carl has since recalled the moment he was called by his commanding officer to a meeting with the Royal Airforce Police and asked the question:
‘SAC Austin, do you have homosexual tendencies?’
Carl said: “When they asked if I was a homosexual I knew my life was about to change.
“I know I could’ve said ‘no’ but there comes a point in time when you have to be true to yourself.
“I was marched off camp within an hour, just enough time to be able to throw everything I had into boxes, which the RAF would deliver to an address of my choice.”
Carl was suspended pending an investigation.
Six months later he was suspended permanently from duty – and was told he had been spared from military prison due to his exemplary record.
HISTORY
Before 2000, homophobic provisions in acts such as the Army Act 1955, the Air Force Act 1955, and the Naval Discipline Act 1957, allowed for the dismissal of queer people.
But in a landmark ruling at European Court of Human Rights on January 12 2000, queer people were vindicated and the discriminatory legislation – which pre-dated the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK – was overturned.
Tragically, Carl’s story is one of many examples of the institutionalised discrimination faced by queer servicemen and women in Britain – many of whom spent time in military prison after the discovery of their sexual identity.
It was not until 2021 that the Ministry of Defence allowed former Armed Forces personnel – who had been dismissed on the basis of their sexuality – to apply to have their medals restored.
For Carl this year’s celebrations were more poignant than ever.
Marking 25 years since the ban on openly gay and lesbian people serving in the British Armed Forces was lifted.
He said, “When the ban was lifted it wasn’t just a policy change – it was liberation,
“Finally LGBT veterans could be their true authentic selves – not just in uniform, but also in life.
“Today the UK military reflects a broader and braver Britain. One that values every individual for their ability and their integrity – not their identity.
“On this armed forces day I remember those who came before us, those who served in silence, and those still serving with pride.”
Supporting veterans in Greater Manchester
The Veterans’ Survey 2022, the first of its kind in the UK – conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs – revealed that a significant number of veterans suffer from loneliness and mental health issues.
And Armed Forces Day saw NHS Pennine Care Veterans’ Service in attendance to raise awareness of the support available to veterans in Manchester.
Rosa Dickens is a clinical psychologist at NHS Pennine Care Veterans’ Service – a therapy services specifically for veterans operating across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
Rosa attended Armed Force’s Day celebrations in Manchester to raise awareness of the the service.
She said: “A lot of the veterans we speak to feel quite forgotten about really, once they’ve come off tour.
“It can be very difficult for veterans when they come out of the forces.
“Unfortunately some veterans find they are not well understood within mainstream services, or find their needs can’t be met there.
“Discussions of mental health have a stigma attached – and veterans don’t always know where to turn when they leave the forces, because it isn’t always well talked about.
“That’s why we exist but unfortunately a lot of services don’t know about us.
“What we do is provide that mental health support – so we cover all mental health, but we specialise in military trauma.
“At our Veterans Service clinical psychologists like us are there to help with the mental health burdens that ex-force members face, and we want to ease that transition for those who are struggling to readjust into civilian life.
“It’s incredibly important to celebrate our veterans, they’ve given up so much of their lives serving the country and when they do come out of the military sometimes they’re not guided into a service which can help them with the difficulties they may be facing.
“We are trying to get the word out that we are here – and we want people who are interested to reach out, send us a email or give us a call.”
Further support in local communities has been heavily requested by veterans, 73% of whom prefer coordinated services across government and charities – according to YouGov research.
But for Greater Manchester veterans – support will be levelling up.
Following the launch of a new government pilot scheme on June 26 of Armed Forces Week – Veterans in the region will be some of the first in the country to get tailored support from the VALOUR programme.
The £50million scheme will aim to give veterans easier access to essential care – and is set to roll out nationally in 2026, as part of a government pledge to ensure no veteran is left unsupported.
*Veterans’ Survey 2022.
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