Armed Forces Week

22 June 2026

Armed Forces Week is a valued national occasion, bringing communities together to show their appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice of our Armed Forces community from currently serving personnel and reservists to veterans, cadets, and their families. Across Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire, this community is significant, with around 70,000 veterans, 2,500 regular personnel and 1,000 reservists calling the area home.

To mark the start of the week, a flag-raising ceremony was held at Shire Hall in Warwick, attended by Lord-Lieutenant Tim Cox and Deputy Lieutenant Simon Miesegaes, alongside members of Warwickshire County Council, veterans, Bretheren from the Lord Leycester Hospital, and representatives from the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Armed Forces Covenant Partnership.

The event provided a proud and visible moment of recognition for those who have served, and continue to serve, the country. Read more here

In addition, Deputy Lieutenant Min Willoughby de Broke attended the flag- raising ceremonies taking place at both Bedworth and Nuneaton, and Deputy Lieutenant Martin Jelley attended the Armed Forces community gathering at Atherstone where there were a number of stands representing local groups. The event in Atherstone was opened by the Deputy Mayor of North Warwickshire, Councillor Sandra Smith.

During Armed Forces Week the Lord-Lieutenant also attended Armed Forces Day Celebrations at the Pump Court Gardens in Leamington Spa, and Deputy Lieutenant Simon Miesegaes attended a ceremony in the Remembrance Garden in Stratford-upon-Avon with the Commanding Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major of DMP Kineton. The ceremony was followed by a five aside tournament and there were a number of stalls.

Deputy Lieutenant David Kelham attended the Memorial Service at Hillmorton at the end of the Armed Forces Week.

Alongside this act of Remembrance, the Royal British Legion - with the initiative of their local chair Mrs Kathryn Lawrence and in the presence of the mayor of Rugby, Cllr Nooria Sayani - presented a certificate to Flying Officer Howard Jones, affiliating the local Air Cadets, 29F Squadron.

As the week drew to a close on Sunday 28 June, the Lord-Lieutenant attended Choral Evensong at St Mary’s Church in Warwick.