Watch: Poppy-wearing crowds flock to Stourbridge for military vehicle parade ahead of Armistice Sunday
Stourbridge town centre was packed today with people eager to see a parade of vintage military vehicles.
Poppies were proudly on show as spectators gathered in Stourbridge to watch the might and glory of the vehicles which soldiers used in years gone by to keep Britain safe.
Now an annual event, the Stourbridge Military Vehicle Parade saw the town centre reverberate with the sounds and power of motorcycles, tanks, armoured cars and other unique machines.
More than 40 vehicles snaked their way from Canal Street down High Street, Market Street and through the town. More than 1,000 Union flags were given to spectators to ensure the public could play their part in the patriotic spectacle.
The streets were lined with locals and visitors from further afield. The parade included a huge range of vehicles plus a marching band and even a Winston Churchill lookalike.
Danny Tompkins, who came from Derby, said: "It is great on Remembrance weekend there is a parade like this where we can come together and see what incredible engineering our country produced to win the world wars."
Former Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb said: "The 1,000 Union Jacks painted the town red, white and blue. It is an impressive sight and a wonderful preamble to Remembrance Sunday [November 9]. The parade is another jewel in the crown that is Stourbridge."
Anyone who forgot there was going to be a show of military might today and left their car parked on the high street overnight would have had a rude awakening.
Pictures were shared on social media and number plates were read out on the radio as the parade got closer, with motorists warned to reclaim their cars lest they be flattened by a tank.
John Pearson revelled in driving a tank through Stourbridge after his way was made clear.
He said: "Driving through Stourbridge today. Public seemed impressed, there were about 30 military vehicles behind us. We led the vehicle parade; organiser said it was because we were slowest, but I prefer to claim we were the stars of the show."
The Shirley Pipe Band started proceedings at the Bonded Warehouse with a rousing rendition of It's a Long Way to Tipperary, the wartime anthem penned by Oldbury songwriter Jack Judge.
The vehicles were due to be on show at the Bonded Warehouse until 3pm.
