Following a two-year break due to the Covid pandemic, Heywood 's famous celebration of all things 1940s returned with a bang today. It began at 10am with a parade of military vehicles including replica Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft.
Pictures from the event showed how visitors really got into the swing, dressing up as soldiers and even evacuees departing from East Lancashire Railway's Heywood station.
As well as the town's official armed forces day parade, the organisers were also hosting a 'big jubilee street party' while the Blackley Brass Band was also booked to perform.
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The parade was due to start at 1pm and was expected to include cadets as well as war veterans marching with the Pipes and Drums Band as well as the brass band and other acts.
Organisers are encouraging as many as possible to get involved, especially if they want to show off vintage cars. "It's a fully entertaining show for all the family," said the organisers on their Facebook page.
The event's centrepiece is the official Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which was due to conduct a flypast at 2.03pm.
Visitors are also promised displays of air raid shelters and unexploded bombs as well as music and dancing from Rachel Mercer.
Kyle Evans was due to perform as George Formby at Heywood Magic Market where a a funfair in the car park was also promised for the kids. Elsewhere, the more energetic visitors were being encouraged to take on a 45ft army assault course at Blue Rose Gifts & Balloons.
More sedate activities included a challenge to crack Enigma and Morse code, as well as arts and crafts. Free face painting was being offered by Jigsaw Financial.
