THE Royal Naval Patrol Service Association is holding its annual reunion parade and service at Belle Vue Park in Lowestoft on Saturday, October 9.

The association warmly welcomes members of the public and especially members of ex-service associations and also standard bearers to join them.

The service starts at 11am and the association asks anyone attending to muster at 10.45am. After the service at the memorial there will be a short march down to the Sparrow’s Nest – the association’s war-time headquarters – for the marchpast and sunset ceremony.

Guest-of-honour this year is Captain M T G Durkin RN, Captain Mine Warfare and Patrol Vessels, Diving and Fishery Protection, from Portsmouth.

The Royal Naval Patrol Service was the war time branch of the Royal Navy, and had its central administrative depot in the Sparrow’s Nest Gardens in Lowestoft.

There were 66,000 men and 6,000 ships in the Patrol Service, of which 14,000 were killed and 600 ships lost.