OVER 3,000 friends, family members, and Marine Corps members celebrated the return of a much-loved family event this year.

The Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone hosted the Corps Family Weekend event.

It's the first Family Weekend in almost four years, as it was sadly cancelled twice due to the pandemic, and then once more following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Hundreds of children enjoyed live entertainment at the weekend event, which saw the Band of the His Majesty’s Royal Marines at centre stage.

Other attractions included Cadet and unarmed combat displays, annual rugby and football matches and inter-Unit tugs of war, performances by the RMA Fijian Commando Brotherhood and Military Wives’ Choirs, as well as a spectacular firework display.

The weekend ended with the Corps Family Day Parade and Service, attended by General Gwyn Jenkins, CB OBE DC, Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, Commandant General Royal Marines and President of RMA – The Royal Marines Charity, and his family.

The Royal Marines Charity, who organised the event, benoefitted from a £15,000 donation from the Advanta Foundation, set up by the wealth-management company, Advanta Wealth Ltd.

The money was donated to help fund three Unit Families’ Days, which has since included those in Chivenor and Plymouth, as well as last weekend's event in Lympstone.

Ben Curry, Chief Executive of RMA – The Royal Marines Charity said: “We sincerely thank everyone involved in making Corps Family Weekend such a fantastic success, and especially to Advanta for their generous support for all three Unit Families’ Days this year.

"It has been particularly special to see everyone back having such a great time.

"Having been cancelled for the past three years,  it was wonderful to see so many of the Corps Family travelling all the way to Lympstone from near and far, from all parts of all four countries of the Union, to again enjoy and share remembrances in one others’ company.

"We are the Marines’ combined charity and Association and so the weekend was also a perfect time for us to personally thank all those who so generously give of their time throughout the year to support us in so many ways.”