A PARACHUTE display team will be dropping in during a Wrexham event being held for the oldest armed forces charity in the country.

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity – formerly known as The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association – is a 133-year-old charity whose work helps tens of thousands of adults and children all over the world.

The charity holds fundraising days known as "The Big Brew Up" which are essentially coffee mornings, but this year, Publicity Officer Tracey Smith said she wanted to go "bigger" and is holding a large outdoor event at the home of Brickfield Rangers Football Club on Homestead Lane in June.

Tracey said: "There will be stalls, dancers, bands, animals, military cadets, mini police and as headliners, The REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) Lightening Bolts Parachute display team.

"The aim of the day is to raise valuable funds for SSAFA so our caseworkers can get out and help as many veterans and serving military members as we can, but also to raise awareness of SSAFA and the valuable work we do."

The charity was set up in the 1880's by Colonel Gildea in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars when he felt the government of the day wasn't doing enough for veterans and their families. Originally known as SSFA (Soldier, Sailors Families Association) the charity became SSAFA in 1918 when the Royal Airforce came into being.

Tracey added: "We are the oldest Tri-service military charity in the world.

"The event is taking place just six days before Armed Forces Day and I hope the people of Wrexham will come and support this wonderful charity."

The event takes place on Sunday, June 23 at 11am and finishes at 3pm with the Lightening Bolts "dropping in" at 1pm.

Anyone wishing to have a stall at the event should contact Tracey for more information via e-mail at

tracey-smith6@sky.com

.