Torridge District Council leader Ken James reflects on Armed Forces Day

The Torridge area has a well-documented history with the armed services and to this day the links remain strong.  

Only a few weeks ago, British and French troops were seen out in Bideford Bay storming the beaches of North Devon as they honed amphibious warfare tactics.

At the beginning of this week, my fellow councillors and officers were joined by veterans from the armed forces community to mark the start of Armed Forces Week by raising the Armed Forces Day flag at the Riverbank House flagpole in Bideford.  This is something that we take great pride in and is a symbol of our support and gratitude to the men and women who serve, and the families that stand by them. 

Events like this provide us with a great opportunity to come together and remember the sacrifices made by armed forces personnel and veterans, who work tirelessly to keep us safe and secure.  My colleagues and I were not only in awe of their stories and bravery, but also that they continue to serve in the interest of others long after they have retired.  

John Peel, one of our guests and part of the North Devon Royal Marines Association team, is raising money for the Royal Marines Charity.  To mark his 75th  birthday, he has set himself the task of completing 75km weekly for the 52 weeks of 2025, using a combination of swimming, cycling, jogging and walking.  I would urge anyone, if they can, to support him in his fundraising efforts for this very worthwhile charity, by visiting Just Giving online and searching for this link: North Devon RMA Team John Peel is fundraising for RMA — The Royal Marines Charity

Animals have long played a crucial and significant role within the armed services.  Cats and dogs have served in various specialised roles like scouting and detecting explosives, but also for companionship, rodent control and more.  Today cats and dogs play an increasingly important role in most UK families.  According to recent PDSA figures, 28 per cent of adults own a dog, whilst 24 per cent of adults have a cat — which works out at over 21 million pets.

To mark National Microchip Awareness Month, cat and dog owners are being encouraged to come along to Victoria Park, Bideford between 8am and 10am and Torrington Commons between 1.30pm and 3.30pm on Thursday, June 26, to get their pet’s microchip checked by Torridge District Council’s environmental team.  As a nation of animal lovers, microchipping is crucial for both welfare and to provide owners with peace of mind.  

Ensuring cat and dog microchips have the most current information helps to keep people’s pets safe and greatly increase the likelihood of a lost animal being reunited with their owners.  Unfortunately, some pets do go missing from time to time, and thieves sometimes also target dogs. Anything that can help and assist people to be reunited with their much-loved pet, can only be a good thing!