RAF
Lyneham celebrate the FREEDOM OF
SWINDON
Swindon Advertiser
21st May 2009
www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk
A
SEA of blue engulfed Swindon’s town centre as
personnel from RAF Lyneham paraded through the streets
to celebrate their freedom of the borough. Armed personnel
were inspected by Mayor Steve Wakefield at the Civic Offices
prior to their march past along Commercial Road.
Hundreds of residents lined the streets cheering and applauding
as the boys and girls – in their number one best
blues paraded smartly past.
Coun Wakefield who had stood in the blazing sunshine in
his mayoral robes said the event had been a huge success
but that he was sad the parade could be one of Lyneham’s
last.
“They looked tremendous and I was very proud to
see them march through our town,” he said. “I
only hope it’s not the last we see of our service
personnel as we approach RAF Lyneham’s imminent closure.
“Swindon has always had a deep affection for the
armed forces and specifically Lyneham – something
that was plain to see by the roadside presence during the
parade.”
Two flights of service personnel marched through the town
centre with the Central Band of the RAF playing, bayonets
fixed, Squadron Standards flying and most importantly heads
held high.
Samantha Durn, 20, of Middleleaze, travelled into town
to support her friend Jason Howard, a loadmaster at RAF
Lyneham. She said: “It’s really important to
support our armed forces. The job they do is a challenging
one and it’s
good to know that the people here support and respect them.”
As the parade left Commercial Road and headed back to
the Civic Offices, a lone Hercules flew overhead, welcomed
by whoops and cheers from the crowd.
At just two years old Samantha Shepherd was the youngest
observer at the Freedom of the Borough Parade.
Parents David and Karen from Park North took her because
of her recent fixation with planes. “She just loves
aircraft and always shouts ‘plane’ when
she hears one fly overhead. said Mr Shepherd. Both
Karen and I have RAF links and will always be here to show
our appreciation for the tough job our service men and
women do. We’ve seen lots on the news recently
about protesters appearing at parades like this in other
parts of the country but it’s a comfort to say that
the people here were only here to offer their best wishes.”
Earlier in the week as preparations were well under way
for the important day, the airmen and airwomen from Wiltshire's
surviving airbase began a gruelling rehearsal programme
under the watchful eye of the Station Warrant
Officer, Nick Dale. He
spoke earlier: “I am really pleased with the way
the rehearsals have gone so far. We have a full
dress rehearsal Wednesday and then it’s on to the
main event on Thursday. The last time that RAF Lyneham
exercised the Freedom of Swindon was in 2006, and it poured
with rain; we are praying for good weather for Thursday.”
The Freedom of the Borough is a privilege, and its history
dates back to the days when most of England’s towns
and cities were walled. Being granted the freedom
to march within the walls whilst armed was deemed as the
highest of accolades. Sadly with the recent government
announcement, which echoed the base was to close by 2012,
it is possibly the last time this parade will be held for
the Royal Air Force personnel from Lyneham. The defence estate
is earmarked for disposal and unless circumstances change
between now and the end of 2012 the military presence,
especially the synonymous Hercules that paint the Wiltshire
skies, will be lost and the economic impact on the community
will be catastrophic.
Pictures with thanks to RAF Lyneham
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