Mayor of Neath Port Talbot's Armed Forces Festival 2024
October - November 2024
This year's event is to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy.
The festival is designed to pay tribute to the Armed Forces and their families in Neath Port Talbot, both the fallen and veterans from the two World Wars and other global conflicts. It also honours those currently serving and their families for the ongoing contribution they make at home and abroad.
Join us to celebrate and commemorate the past and present-day contribution of the Armed Forces to our Communities.
The UK government part-funds the festival throught the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK . It invests in communities by supporting local business, people and skills. For more information, visit the Shared Prosperity Fund prospectus.
The Mayor of Neath Port Talbot’s Remembrance Concert 2024
Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot, SA13 1PJ
A very special evening to pay tribute to members of our Armed Forces Community, including commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
Hosted by Mal Pope, the evening will feature performances from:
- City of Swansea Pipe Band
- 334 (Neath) Squadron RAF Air Cadets Band
- Royal British Legion Llanelli Band
- Valley Rock Voices choir.
- Madlen Forwood - Soloist
The concert will end with a Remembrance Service, a minute silence, and thousands of falling poppies.
Ticket prices
- £10 Standard (including booking fee)
- £8 Concessions (including booking fee)
Concessionary groups
- under 16
- over 60
- 8 or more people
- Armed Forces Veterans
- Armed Forces Reservists
- Armed Forces Cadets
- serving Armed Forces personnel
NPT Armed Forces Festival Day
Aberafan Shopping Centre:
- 10.45am: Launch of the RBL Port Talbot’s Poppy Appeal, dedication of the Garden of Remembrance and flag raising ceremony
- 11.15am to 11.30am: a musical surprise from the Army
- 11.30am: Presentation of prizes for children’s art competitions sponsored by Llanelec Precision Engineering, Wall Colmonoy and The Royal Mint
- 12pm: Port Talbot Library - talk on the history and ongoing work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- 12.15pm: Armed Forces Covenant signing - Aberafan Shopping Centre and Tai Tarian
- 1.15pm & 2.30pm: Swansea Ukulele Club
- 2pm: Ioan Osbourne, piper
- free activities
- more than 25 stands
Civic Square, Port Talbot:
- Display of military vehicles past and present
- Emergency Services vehicles
- two genuine Anderson shelters
Affliliated Events
Saturday 2 November 2024
10.00am - Create a Poppy @ Cwmafan Library
Monday 4 November 2024
10.30am Remembrance Coffee Morning @ Baglan Library
Tuesday 5 November
9.30am - Remembrance Community Coffee Morning @ Sandfields Library
Friday 8 November 2024
10am - Remembrance Service & Memorial Unveiling. Bulldogs Boxing & Community Activities, Fenbrook Close, Port Talbot SA12 7PA
7pm - Veterans Reorg Remembrance Day Concert. Briton Ferry Rugby Club.
Saturday 9 November 2024
10.30am - Create a Poppy: Family Craft @ Port Talbot library
Sunday 10 November 2024
Traditional Remembrance Sunday parades in the town centres of Neath and Port Talbot organised by Neath Port Talbot Council.
Knitted and crocheted Poppy Appeal
Four banners made from army scrim netting will hang from the ceiling of the Aberafan Shopping Centre from 22 October to 12 November 2024.
The netting is traditionally used to camouflage troops on military operation, but for the festival it will be bedecked with more than 1,500 knitted, crocheted and felt-crafted poppies that have been made by schools, knitting groups and individuals from across the county borough and beyond.
Thank you to everyone who made poppies.
Festival News
Do you have a D-Day, World War Two or other military story to tell?
As we commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings on 28 June 2024, we are looking for local stories that celebrate our county borough’s proud military heritage.
