Bolton is now formally affiliated with a Royal Navy helicopter squadron, continuing the borough’s tradition of building close links with the armed forces.

And the link will allow students across the borough to gain valuable insights.

A signing ceremony in the town hall marked the official affiliation between Bolton and the 820 Naval Air Squadron.

The unit has already established close ties with the town, but the formal ceremony was delayed by the pandemic.

The affiliation is a partnership between the squadron and the whole of Bolton, not just the council.

The agreement between the two will help local schools, colleges, and the university to work closely with the armed forces.

It will allow them to gain valuable insights into their work and build links to the officer training school.

The ceremony was attended by members of the 820 Naval Air Squadron, including Commander Ian Varley.

The squadron operates Merlin Helicopters from navy aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

Bolton has a long and proud armed forces tradition, including important historical ties with the Royal Navy.

In the 1940s, Bolton adopted HMS Dido after residents raised more than one million pounds to fund the construction of the light cruiser.

The council signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant in 2015, pledging to put armed forces personnel and veterans at the heart of public services.

It includes commitments to support local veterans’ charities, build links with cadet units and help veterans transition into civilian life.

Council leader Cllr Martyn Cox said: “Bolton is rightly proud of its historical connections with the armed forces, so it was an easy decision when we were asked to affiliate with a Royal Navy Air Squadron.

“It was an honour to welcome members of the 820 Naval Air Squadron today and to formally mark this partnership.

“I look forward to local schools and other groups building strong links in the years to come.”

The council’s armed forces champion, Cllr Andy Morgan, said: “As a veteran who served in the Army Air Corp, it was a privilege to be part of the signing ceremony.

“We receive regular updates from the squadron, detailing their activities in areas of Cyprus, the Suez Canal, the South China Seas, the Mediterranean, and Norway to name a few.

“These updates are a welcome reminder of the hard work and sacrifices made by our armed forces to keep us all safe.”

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.