EVENTS to mark Armed Forces Week have gone virtual.

Bradford Council is supporting a number of online activities for the annual initiative, which began yesterday.

That afternoon, a flag raising ceremony broadcast via the council’s social media platforms opened with a speech from the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Keighley councillor Doreen Lee. A short service was then led by Canon Paul Maybury, of Bradford Cathedral.

On Armed Forces Day itself, this Saturday, the annual Drumhead Service will be held – also online.

It will be led by the Lord Mayor’s chaplain, the Rev Dr Jonathan Pritchard – who is also Keighley town chaplain.

Contributions will be provided by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Ed Anderson, Cllr Lee and Canon Maybury. Plus, Royal British Legion standard bearers Martin Fearnley and Paul Lister – with Paul’s five-year-old daughter Lola – will feature.

The service will be broadcast on the council social media platforms at 11am.

To help people to celebrate Armed Forces Week at home, Bradford Council has put together a page on its website – bradford.gov.uk – with information and links to activities.

Councillor Joanne Dodds, the council’s armed forces champion, said: “Bradford district is rightly proud of its strong relationship with our armed forces and although events are taking place online this year, we will still be able to demonstrate our thanks for all that they do for us.

“We may not be able to celebrate together in our usual way but we can still show our continued support and appreciation for all those men and women who make-up the armed forces.”