TWO centuries of British and Ghurka friendship was celebrated on Saturday as Armed Forces Day returned to Swindon.

Hosting both countries' national anthems before the crowds were treated to a parachute display from the Jump 4 Heroes Free Fall Team, the day was bathed in sunshine in Faringdon Park.

The event went off without a hitch as the town celebrated 200 years since the first Ghurkas were enlisted into the British Army in the Anglo-Nepalese War.

Dean Hoskins, 44, a firefighter and army reservist based in Swindon, was part of the six-strong parachute display team which opened the event by landing from 4,000 feet in the middle of the park.

"All of us involved are military, whether retired, reservists, or still working full time," he said.

"It is the first time I have jumped into Faringdon Park, so that's quite a big thing for me as a boy in his home town.

"It's a very important day for us because it is about getting the forces recognised. I do some jumps in America and there is a different attitude there, which I think is starting to change in this country to get the forces a bit more recognition."

Tika Bahadur Gurung, chairman of the senior citizen group of the Swindon Nepalese Association, said: "Ghurkas have now served alongside the British Army for 200 years, so today is the anniversary for us to celebrate that. We will always respect this country and the armed forces because of what we have all been through together."

Veteran Andy Hewitt, 74, has served in Malta, Cyprus and Germany during his own tours of duty.

"To us, this shows people who we are and what we are about, and they always show their appreciation for what we have done," he said. "There are friends who wanted to be here but have lost limbs and aren't so mobile, so we are here for them at the same time as those who lost their lives."

John Gallagher, 66, is the youngest Chelsea Pensioner, and came to Swindon to show his support.

"Every man and woman in the army will tell you how much they admire the Ghurkas," he said.

"They have done so much for us in 200 years, and as their country has been decimated recently, it is important for us to give back. The Chelsea Pensioners raised £6,000 in one week through collection tins, which hopefully goes some way.

"We go to Armed Forces Day every year, because it is not just about those of us living, it is about the ones who didn't make it. They may not be here but we can make sure they are not forgotten.

"These young cadets are fabulous, and those are the youths for the future."

Therese Giles and husband, Ron, from Brinkworth, go to every Armed Forces Day, even travelling to Trowbridge the next day for their celebration.

"This gives us the chance to support our forces, and we are very grateful for all the hard work they do in keeping us safe, especially with what is going on in the world at the moment," she said.

"They always say, lest we forget, and I think some people may have forgotten. It is vital that we remember those people who sacrifice everything for us."

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland said: "This is a day of celebration of the contribution our armed forces make across the country and overseas, and they are the peace makers. That is a very powerful message that days like today help to remind us of.

"Swindon has such a strong military tradition we should rightly be among the best in respecting that. I hope the day will go from strength to strength in the future.

"Days like we have seen in Tunisia and France recently serve as a tragic but timely reminder of the threat terrorism poses and the vital importance of our armed forces in keeping us safe."

Below, Ruby Mai with Lance Corporal Michael Spann, of 280 MC Squadron, at Armed Forces Day in Faringdon Park. Picture: DAVID MORRISON

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