Commodore's foreword

Welcome to HMS SULTAN’s Summer Show. Thank you for supporting what continues to be a fantastic community event, with all monies raised going to local charities. This year’s re-invigorated show has an even greater military theme than last year. We will be supporting the Fly Navy 100 celebrations, marking the centenary of Naval Aviation on the Sultan site and complementary Armed Forces Day events.

The first national Armed Forces Day to honour our Service personnel – past, present and future – will be held on Saturday 27 June 2009. The aim of Armed Forces Day (AFD), which is intended to become an annual event, is to increase public awareness and support of all those who serve and have served in HM Armed Forces. It involves serving personnel, veterans and cadets. A local AFD event is planned to take place on Southsea Common on Sat/Sun 4/5 July.

In recent years the Sultan Show has raised over £100,000 for naval and local charities including local hospitals, The Rocky Appeal, the Lord Mayor of Gosport’s Appeal, Stubbington Ark, Felicia Park Urban Farm, the Rainbow Centre and the Rowans Hospice, to name but a few. The proceeds this year will again go to a mixture of local charities and our own sailors’ charities.

The Show continues to grow and last year we welcomed over 25,000 visitors to the 2 day event. As a fun day out for all the family it will continue to prove value for money. Having proved very popular last year, the free Provincial Society Bus service from the Gosport Ferry will continue this year.

In the main arena, hosted by Heart FM Breakfast DJs, you will be able to see the thrills of the Royal Navy Raiders Parachute Display Team who will be dropping in, the Royal Artillery Motorcycle Display Team, the Rockwood Dog Display Team together with regular favourites The VCC Field Gun Competition and the Band of HM Royal Marines.

The rest of the Show has the good old favourites and some new faces. The Hovercraft Museum is bringing some of their craft for you to have rides on. The Steam Fayre, Farmers Market, Petting Zoo and Funfair are back as well as the Village Fete. Portsmouth FC are bringing a ‘Beat the Goalie’ stall and will help you to see exactly how fast you can kick a ball. Heart FM’s chill out area will offer weary parents the opportunity to rest their feet whilst their custom made radio booth offers you the chance to try your hand at being a DJ.

The REME are here with a selection of Army vehicles and a contingent of Royal Marines Reserves from RMR Portsmouth will have a selection of kit and equipment on display and will be performing unarmed combat displays.

This year’s main raffle gives you the chance to win many fantastic prizes including £1,000 cash courtesy of Oakleaf Brewery, a HD Ready Flat screen TV, a Bose Stereo system, and a Nintendo Wii just to start.

As always, I wish to thank all the local business sponsors that have once again helped to make this the community event it is. Please also remember the SULTAN military staff and trainees, civil servants and our Flagship partners who have all made an enormous effort to make this an action packed and enjoyable weekend for all the family.