Soldiers to parade through Thatcham
Onlookers expected to line the streets for the Freedom of Thatcham parade
A PARADE of soldiers will pass through Thatcham tomorrow (Wednesday) to exercise the Freedom of the Town.
The Royal School of Military Survey, based at Denison Barracks, Hermitage, will be honoured and people are invited to support the town and the troops by lining the streets for the occasion.
The soldiers, The Band of The Corps of Royal Engineers, representatives of the Thatcham branch of the Royal British Legion and members of the Royal Engineers' Association will all march from Brownsfield Road to Bath Road, High Street, and onto Thatcham Broadway where a ceremony will take place.
The honour, awarded by Thatcham Town Council, is in recognition, nationally and internationally, of the contribution that the military school has made to the education and training of defence personnel and the close relationship which has existed between it, the Corps of Royal Engineers at Denison Barracks and the residents of Thatcham for more than 60 years.
The honorary freedom means that the school has the right, honour and distinction of marching through the streets of the town on all ceremonial occasions with colours flying, bands playing, drums beating and bayonets fixed and the parade is expected to begin at 1.15pm.
Following an inspection by Brigadier Hallas and Thatcham mayor Lee Dillon, a formal presentation of a scroll will be made.
The mayor of Thatcham, Lee Dillon, said: "It was in February of this year that the Town Council decided to confer the honour of the Freedom of the Town to the Royal School of Military Survey which has had links with Thatcham for more than sixty years.
"We have been working with the RSMS, the Thatcham Branch of the Royal British Legion and other organisations to ensure that this historic event will be spectacular and memorable."
The ceremonial event, which will also celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion, will be witnessed by the Queen's representative, the Hon. Mary Bayliss, Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire; the High Sheriff of Berkshire Robert Woods, and other civic and military dignitaries.
Members of the public unable to attend the ceremony in person will be able to watch it live via the Town Council's website www.thatchamtowncouncil.gov.uk
For news coverage and photographs of the event, see this week's Newbury Weekly News and log back onto Newburytoday.co.uk to see our online picture gallery.
