A WEEK-LONG series of social media posts marked Tameside Council’s lead-in to the recent Armed Forces Day.
Highlighting the borough’s Tameside’s long, close and prestigious relationship with the services, they combined items from the impressive collections held by the borough’s museums service and local studies and archives centre with personal stories told through diaries, recollections and even objects.
On Armed Forces Day itself items were posted on Twitter every 30 minutes and every hour on Facebook. They also shared information from local cadet forces and the Tameside Armed Services Community culminating in the release of a short film which featured some of the highlights of previous celebrations in Victoria Park, Denton.
In addition, Dukinfield Town Hall was floodlit in red, white and blue.
The council is still looking for stories of life in service, from those who may have fought in the Second World War or Korea, been called up in the days of National Service, seen active service more recently, or who are in uniform at the moment.
If you would like to contribute a story, contact the arts and engagement team on 0161 342 4144 or email events@tameside.gov.uk
The posts will go onto the twitter tmbc_culture and the Tameside Libraries and Cultural Services Facebook page to be shared across the council’s other social media platforms.
Cllr Ged Cooney, Tameside Council’s executive member with responsibility for the Armed Forces Covenant, said: “Just because Covid prevents us from hosting our traditional event in Denton doesn’t mean we are allowing Armed Forces Day to pass unmarked.
“Tameside is extremely proud of its long and enduring relationship with the services and the tweets and other social media posts will be our way of saluting the forces until next year when we’re able to do them justice on our return to Victoria Park.”