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Theme park's free thrills for soldiers
SOLDIERS based at Catterick Garrison will be the first to accept an offer of free entry to Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo this week under the Heroes' Welcome initiative.
Around 350 troops and their families will visit the attraction, at Kirby Misperton near Malton, on Saturday, and an invitation was issued to all UK armed forces personnel to visit the park free of charge.
Saturday’s visitors are all members of 4th Mechanised Brigade, also known as the Black Rats, and have recently returned from an arduous six-month tour to Iraq. They have previously served in Afghanistan.
Gordon Gibb, the theme park’s chief executive, said: “All our armed forces deserve the respect and gratitude of the British people for their huge commitment to public service.
“Waiving admission charges to the park to anyone who shows their military ID card is our way of showing our appreciation.”
The invitation echoes Scarborough’s Heroes Welcome scheme – where local firms give discounts to members of the armed forces – which was set up by the South Bay Traders’ Association and backed by the Evening News.
Mr Gibb said he was dismayed at reports earlier in the year of servicemen and women suffering abuse when wearing their uniforms in public elsewhere in the country.
He said: “I thought it was outrageous, and it’s one of the main reasons why I decided to issue this invitation to Flamingo Land. Anyone who wants to wear their uniform with pride while here at the park is more than welcome to do so.”
Brigadier Julian Free, the commander of 4th Mechanised Brigade, Catterick Garrison, said: “This very generous gesture by Flamingo Land is another indicator of the overwhelming support the Armed Forces enjoy and deserve for their extraordinary efforts on operations. It is very warmly welcomed and greatly appreciated. The servicemen and women of the Brigade will thoroughly enjoy their day out with their families and friends.”
Last week we reported how a soldier who was refused a room at a hotel in Surrey when he showed his ID had been offered a stay in Scarborough by the Heroes Welcome organisers. Cpl Tomos Stringer, who served in Afghanistan, and his wife have been offered two nights’ free accommodation at a top hotel in town, plus two free restaurant meals.
l Any businesses and organisations who would like to offer their services to the Heroes Welcome scheme, giving offers and discounts to the armed forces, can contact South Bay Traders Association chairman John Senior on (01723) 360922.
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Weather for Scarborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
