The Trooper meets the troops: Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson to join Armed Forces Day
Rock legend and Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson is taking time out of his band's colossal world tour to attend Armed Forces Day celebrations.
As an honorary officer in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the rock icon will meet serving personnel, their families and veterans at the event on 27 June.
The day of celebration will feature a spectacular programme of flypasts, parachute displays and military parades, accompanied by the iconic sounds of the bands of the Royal Marines, the Army and the RAF.
Run to the hills... for Armed Forces Day
Most well-known for his high-energy stage presence and three-octave vocal range, his connection to the Armed Forces is equally notable.
His father volunteered for the British Army and served in the Royal Corps of Signals, while his uncle forged a career in the RAF as an engineer.
Mr Dickinson himself, who has been performing with the band since 1981, spent four years as an Army Cadet before enlisting as a private in the Army Reserve – then the Territorial Army – between school and university.
A licensed commercial pilot, he once captained a Boeing 747 chartered by the Ministry of Defence, flying 106 RAF personnel home from Afghanistan in 2008.
While his musical aspirations sent him down a different path, he has always retained close ties to the military. In 2020, he officially attested into the RAF and was made an honorary Group Captain as part of 601 Squadron.
In this role, he serves as an ambassador and advisor to the squadron, helping attract new reservists from across the UK.
"The extraordinary men and women who dedicate every day to keeping us safe, and the families who support them, deserve every ounce of our appreciation this Armed Forces Day," Mr Dickinson said.
"Events up and down the country give communities a rare insight into what it means to serve today, from the skilled roles that set up young people for life, to opportunities to work with cutting-edge technology.
"Join me in Aldershot and Farnborough if you're nearby or find an event near you."
The deputy leader of Rushmoor Borough Council, councillor Sophie Porter, said: "This is going to be a spectacular weekend of wonderful displays, flypasts and parades, and also an opportunity to thank our Armed Forces community for everything they do to keep us all safe.
"In addition to the spectacular military attractions, there is lots of fun for families with a climbing wall, assault course, dive tank, virtual reality buses, a funfair, music, stalls and so much more."
Tickets to the event are free, but must be booked beforehand.
You can find them by following this link.
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