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Live updates from Armed Forces Day 2018 in Llandudno


A quarter of a million people are expected to visit Llandudno for the Armed Forces Day today.

Displays including the Red Arrows are set to thrill the crowds on the town's promenade and at the arena in Bodafon Fields.

We'll be bringing you all the latest from the event, which is leading the nation in saying thank you to our servicemen and women.

Follow the live blog for updates throughout the day, including pictures and video of the spectacular action.

The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, will attend the event, and there will be flypasts from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight team which includes a Lancaster bomber, Spitfire and a Hurricane.

The programme for the day is due to start at 11am and finish at 5pm.


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The day is almost here and North Wales is gearing up to play host to the National Armed Forces Day celebration.

As a week of events leading up to the big day draws to a close, all eyes are on Llandudno for the centrepiece event on Saturday.

And if you're heading to the event you're in luck - the weather is expected to be glorious.

However there's a few things you'll need to be mindful of.

The area's hotels will be rammed and parking your car anywhere near Llandudno is set to be a bit of a trial - check out our full parking guide here for the best places, or if you're planning on taking public transport to the event, these are the timetables you should be aware of.

There's also a series of road closures in place and there is bound to be a heavy police presence and special security measures in place.

The day itself will be jam-packed with displays, demonstrations and activities all in honour of our service men and women, past and present.

(Image: CCBC)

And with quarter of a million people expected in the coastal town for the day, it's set to be the biggest event Llandudno has ever seen.

With all the attractions localised on the promenade and Bodafon Fields, logistics have been well taken care of.

Whether you're looking for travel information, or the nearest toilets, where to find the Commander tank or when the Red Arrows perform or what time the Battle of Britain display takes place, all the details you need are right here:

As we welcome both visitors and locals to Llandudno, here's everything you need to know about Armed Forces Day 2018:

It will be a special day for Fusilier Shenkin IV - a goat who is the Royal Welsh's regimental mascot.

Armed Forces Day will be his first royal engagement.

However, it's worth noting that some people aren't that happy that the event is happening in Llandudno and there will be a protest during the event - details of which can be found here.

In a statement about the event, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "Tomorrow is a very special day as Llandudno hosts this year’s National Armed Forces Day 2018.

"Wales has a strong history of military tradition and this event is an opportunity to recognise and mark our debt and gratitude to veterans of previous conflicts in our nation’s history.

"I am proud this major event to celebrate our armed forces is taking place in Wales.

"Conwy County Borough Council has done a great job in delivering this event and I’m pleased the Welsh Government is supporting them by being a major funding partner."


A spectacular sculpture marking Armed Forces Day for a special gala dinner - not a problem. Making it out of chocolate - in a heatwave - a phenomenal challenge.

And it is the challenge that has occupied Emma Baravelli night and day for over a week.

"I'm exhausted," confessed the artisan chocolatier, as she put the finishing touches to her piece.

"This commission has been something completely different."

The UK's National Armed Forces Day to recognise and celebrate Britain's forces is being held at Llandudno in Conwy county this year, with over 100,000 people expected to attend on Saturday for parades and displays.

Ahead of the big day is the charity gala dinner in the town, hosted by Conwy council and the forces' charity SSAFA.

Image caption Emma Baravelli has been working night and day to finish the sculpture

Emma and husband Mark have run their specialist chocolate shop a stones throw away in the walled castle town of Conwy for the last three years, and were a natural choice when the gala hosts were looking for that 'something' just a little bit different to become a centre-piece at the lavish event.

The commission was specific - it had to reflect all the British armed forces - and it had to have impact.

"It's not my usual theme, I have to be honest. I'm quite a girly girl," admitted Emma.

"It's usually flowers and animals, and things like elephants - more magical things, really.

"It was such an honour to be asked to celebrate the men and women who go above and beyond on our behalf - it's nice to give something back."

Her design includes a navy frigate, a tank, a submarine, and topping it all - an iconic World War Two RAF Spitfire.

It is all chocolate and all edible.

Emma estimates the 2ft structure contains about 22lb (10kg) of chocolate - mostly dark chocolate for its structural qualities, and white chocolate for decoration.

"But it was quite a challenge - particularly in this weather."

Parts of north Wales have recorded the hottest temperatures in the entire UK this week - hitting just over 32C (91F) in Porthmadog, just 40 miles away.

And it has been sweltering in the chocolate kitchen above the shop - with just a single air-conditioning unit running around the clock in a bid to cool things down.

It poses particular problems when it comes to making chocolate, as temperature is key. The gala dinner wants a sculpture - not a chocolate fountain.

"I don't remember it ever being this hot, and days of high humidity don't help when you are making chocolate," she added.

"We don't want a collapse in this heat.

"It's about understanding the structure of the chocolate. You have to use physics and chemistry to understand what is going on - it's not just case of melting it and putting it into a fancy shape.

"You have got to understand what is going on inside it, structure-wise."

Emma described the art of sculpting chocolate like stacking chairs - some are made to go together and give a strong and stable piece - but stack different types of chairs, and it could all topple over.

It is all difficult enough under normal circumstances - but the heatwave makes it a whole lot harder.

"It makes it really, really difficult - it's something else you have to worry about," said Emma.

"If it's a nice 15-degree day, then you're okay - but this is just unheard of for us.

"But hey - we like a challenge."


Military teams that scrambled to deal with the Salisbury poisoning will be honoured for their "heroic response" at a national event in the city for next year's Armed Forces Day.

Prime Minister Theresa May said she could "think of no more suitable place" than the cathedral city in Wiltshire to "show our gratitude" to service personnel.

Around 200 army and RAF specialists are still based there to support the recovery effort, following former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia being poisoned with "novichok" in March.

The government hopes hundreds of thousands of people will descend on Salisbury for next year's event to help boost the local economy.

:: Charles and Camilla in morale-boosting Salisbury visit

Image: Sergei Skripal and Yulia Skripal were poisoned in Salisbury in March

Speaking ahead of this year's national service in Llandudno, north Wales, the prime minister will hail military teams' response to the nerve agent attack as "remarkable".

"By holding Armed Forces Day here next year, we are also celebrating the tremendous resilience and great spirit of Salisbury and showing clearly it is open for business," she is due to say.

"It's a great city, enriched by military history and a wonderful place to visit."

Image: Armed Forces Day is held every year to commemorate the Army, RAF and Royal Navy's work

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, speaking at the same event, will add that Salisbury was the "natural choice" to host next year's Armed Forces Day.

"Our extraordinary service men and women continue to help Salisbury and the people of this beautiful cathedral city through the clear up and investigation," he is expected to say.

"And it's extremely fitting that next year the city and the entire nation will be able to thank them here for their commitment and unwavering service to protecting our nation from the deadliest of threats."

Image: Theresa May praised the armed forces' response to the poisoning 'heroic'

Armed Forced Day is an annual event held to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Britain's military.

It was held last year in Liverpool, in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, in 2016, and Guildford, Surrey, in 2015.

On top of the national event, hundreds of street parties and military parades will be hosted across the UK.

Nia Griffith, Labour's shadow defence secretary, also spoke ahead of the service to blast servicemen and women received a "real-terms pay cut for each of the last year".

She called it "completely unacceptable" and blamed "Tory austerity".

"They serve the nation with courage and dedication and it's high time their service was properly recognised," Ms Griffith said. "That's the least they deserve."

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