This year’s concert by the Band of HM Royal Marines on Walmer Green promises to be the biggest event in the South East.

John Perkins, chairman of Deal Memorial Bandstand Trust, told the Mercury that plans were at an advanced stage for the concert, on Sunday July 13.

The concert marks the 25th anniversary of the IRA bombing in Deal but also the 350th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Marines.

Since the closure of Deal barracks in 1996, the Royal Marines Band from Portsmouth has returned every year to perform on Walmer Green. This year they will be joined by the Band of Royal Marines from Collingwood.

Mr Perkins, a former director of music for the Band of HM Royal Marines, said: “This will be the biggest event in the South East for sure.”

“There are people coming from Australia, I’ve heard, and there are always people coming from continental Europe.”

“The Victory Wartime Band will take part and the sea cadet band will be marching.”

Mr Perkins is hopeful there will be fly-past of a Hurricane or Spitfire from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flightfrom RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Pre-concert entertainment will be finished by 1.45pm with the concert starting at 2pm.

At 3.15pm the Collingwood band will march from the Deal and Betteshanger Rugby Club, in Canada Road, through the old barracks, past the garden of remembrance and on to the bandstand to take part in the concert.

Four big screens will be placed on the green to relay the march to the thousands watching.

Mr Perkins has described the attack on Friday, September 22, 1989, as a mindless act of terrorism and said the 11 men who died must never be forgotten.