Thatcham Freedom of the Town ceremony on Wednesday
Residents are being urged to support the parade as soldiers march to ceremony in the Broadway
THE Royal School of Military Survey, based at Denison Barracks, Hermitage, will be honoured by being confirmed with the Freedom of Thatcham on Wednesday.
People in the town are invited to support the town and the troops on the day by lining the streets for the parade of 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, who will march from Brownsfield Road to 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 event will also celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion.
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.
The mayor of Thatcham, Lee Dillon, said: “This is the first Freedom of the Town that Thatcham Town Council has given and it is with great pride that I will be presenting the scroll to mark the occasion.
“We hope that the people of Thatcham will come and support this special event in the history of the town.
“We have worked closely with the school and Thatcham Royal British Legion to make this a day to remember.”
At noon, there will be a peal of bells at St Mary's Church, Church Gate, and from 1pm the parade will set off from the town council offices in Brownsfield Road, making its way to Thatcham Broadway, via Bath Road and High Street.
At about 1.45pm, the ranks will be inspected by Mr Dillon with Brigadier Hallas, and a prayer will be said by the chaplain of Denison Barracks, the Rev James Cook.
Mr Dillon will then address the parade and confer the honour by handing the scroll to the principal of school, John Knight, who will then make a presentation to the mayor.
The parade will head back to Brownsfield Road via the High Street and Bath Road at about 2.40pm.
See next week's Newbury Weekly News for the a full report and photographs from the event
Road closures and changes to restrictions and buses:
No parking in the Broadway and High Street 10am to 3pm
No access to the eastern side of the Broadway from 11am to 3pm
No access to the western side of the Broadway and the High Street (including Co-op car park) from noon to 3pm
The taxi rank in the town centre will be moved to the bay outside The Old Chequers at the southern end of the Broadway from noon to 3pm
West Berkshire Council car park in Brownsfield Road will be closed all day
Brownsfield Road and Bath Road between Green Lane and High Street will be closed for about 10 minutes between 1pm and 1.30pm and again between 2.30pm and 3pm
The southern end of the Broadway will remain open except for approximately five minutes at about 2.30pm as the parade circles the Broadway
Buses will be re-routed and temporary bus stops will be arranged, details will be posted at bus stops in the Broadway and on-board affected services
