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Every June since 1994 military vehicle enthusiasts and veterans from the services have descended on Weymouth as part of the annual Veterans' Awareness week.

Vehicle coordinator Poppy Butcher

The idea to display vintage vehicles was the brainchild of Poppy Butcher and her late husband John (who had served in the Home Guard, The ARP (Air Raid Precaution wardens) and the Royal Air Force).

They wanted to help commemorate the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landings and organised an event using some of their own collection of military vehicles.

Since then the event has grown much bigger and is now firmly fixed in Weymouth's calendar, with many people turning up in 1940s dress.

Weymouth's role in D-Day preparations

Poppy, who is 80-years-old and used to sing with a local big band during the 1940s, remembers the important role Weymouth & Portland played in the preparation for the D-Day landings.

She says: "The American troops went from Weymouth, the vehicles went from Portland. At the time I was working at the Portland dockyard - Naval base as it is now - in the store office, and I used to see all the vehicles."

Poppy Butcher in Weymouth during WWII

She knew something big was being planned: "The harbour was all full of ships and it was a closed off area."

Today, Poppy's role in the vehicle display is vehicle coordinator.

She says: "It is a great event not only for those who have served their country in wartime but also for the many families who love seeing these old military vehicles and watching all the action-packed events that take place during the weekend."

Convoy

Included in the weekend's events was a beach assault by the Royal Engineers followed by a convoy of military vehicles travelling from Weymouth seafront to Portland Castle.

The convoy included a privately owned Sherman tank, jeeps, an Alvis Stalwart and a 1942 Norton motorbike.

For the Veterans' Awareness week, a service of remembrance was held at the Cenotaph followed by a parade by thousands of veterans along the seafront accompanied by marching bands and military vehicles.

And for Poppy, the weekend is the highlight of her year.

She says: "I'm already planning next year's event."

The Armed Forces Day Celebrations in Weymouth and Portland Saturday 13 - Friday 19 June 2009. Service of Remembrance and Parade on Sunday 14 June.