Photo/film opportunity: 2pm - 5.30pmSunday 13 June. Freedom of the Borough awarded to Normandy Veterans, Magna Carta celebrations, civic processions and Freedom Parades with USAF exercising Freedom, Honour Guard Drill display, crowds, colour . . . and the sunshine's booked.
History takes to the streets of Bury St Edmunds on Sunday when the heroes of the Normandy campaign are given the Freedom of the Borough and dignitaries from across the country come to town for a once-every-15-years celebration of the foundation of democracy.
Bury St Edmunds is one of the five Charter Towns making up the Magna Carta Trust which take it in turns to celebrate the legal charter which still has echoes today. In 2004 St Edmundsbury Borough Council decided to link the principles of law and democracy, enshrined in the Magna Carta, with the 60th anniversary of the fight for freedom, and restoration of democratic rights, in Normandy. The Freedom of the Borough will be awarded to the Normandy Veterans Association (1944) Bury St Edmunds and District Branch No 35 - the only such association in Suffolk - at a special ceremony in the Abbey Gardens.
The award will be followed by the Magna Carta Celebration Service in St Edmundsbury Cathedral. Adding their support both to the allies who fought alongside USA armed forces in Normandy and to the Magna Carta, which became the foundation of the American Declaration of Independence, will be the Third United States Air Force. Its members will be exercising their Freedom of the Borough, awarded in 2000, by marching through town and with two flypasts.
The Mayor of St Edmundsbury, Cllr Michael Jones, said:
"The Freedom of the Borough seems a particularly appropriate award for our Normandy Veterans as they were at the forefront of the fight for freedom in 1944. The actions they took and the sights they saw are still vivid memories and it is our responsibility to ensure those memories do not fade into history."
The Mayor added: "Although we are giving the Freedom to the Normandy Veterans, we must also take time to salute the commitment, heroism and sacrifices made by all the British, Commonwealth, American and other allied forces not just in Normandy, but throughout the Second World War. It is especially relevant that we celebrate our links to the Magna Carta on this day as well because it gives us the chance to reflect on the freedom we enjoy to lead our lives without fear of tyranny, to elect our own leaders, and to receive justice. From that Charter grew the great freedoms of English Law, freedoms which have spread far beyond these shores and for which over the centuries so many have laid down their lives to protect."
Some roads willbe closed on the day, from 1pm to 6pm along Angel Hill, Churchgate Street, College Street, Guildhall Street, Abbeygate Street, High Baxter Street, Lower Baxter Street and Woolhall Street. The Abbey Gardens will be shut for security reasons on Sunday until 6pm.
For more information about events - including the carnival on 12 June and medieval-themed Nowton Park Country Fair on 20 June as well as the day of Freedom and Magna Carta celebrations, timings, history and pictures see the website: www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk
Timetable for Sunday 13 June
13.50 Civic procession from Borough Offices, Angel Hill, through Abbey Gate to marquee in Abbey Gardens for meeting of St Edmundsbury Borough Council (ticket only event - Abbey Gardens closed to the public).
14.00 Council meeting to confer Freedom of the Borough on the Normandy Veterans Association (1944) Bury St Edmunds and District Branch No 35
14.4 Review of Normandy Veterans in Abbey Gardens by review party: Mayor of St Edmundsbury, Cllr Michael Jones; Master of the Rolls, Lord Phillips; Commander of the Third United States Air Force, Major General Michael Wooley; and Chairman of the Normandy Veterans Association, Mr Tom Sharpley.
14.45 Review of the USAF in Abbey Gardens by review party, taking salute on dais.
14.58 Flypast of USAF KC 135 aircraft, from 100th Air Refuelling Wing, RAF Mildenhall.
15.00 Civic procession to Angel Hill. Parade along Angel Hill by Third USAF, USAFE Band, Normandy Veterans in WWII vehicles, to St Edmundsbury Cathedral. Route lined by RAF Regiment from RAF Honington.Flypast by four F-15E Strike Eagles from 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath.
15.30 Magna Carta Celebration Service in Cathedral.
17.00 Freedom Parade by Third USAF, USAFE Band and Normandy Veterans from Cathedral, Churchgate Street, Guildhall Street, Abbeygate Street, Angel Hill.
17.15 Display of Military Excellence on Angel Hill, including USAFE Band and display by USAF Honour Guard Drill Team.
ENDS
Note to news editors: A media information pack is being emailed to you - it is also available by fax on request. The pack contains details such as the Bury St Edmunds link with the Magna Carta, information about the USAFE Band and USAF Honour Guard, programme of events in June and the meaning of Freedom of the Borough. More information, including the order of service for the Magna Carta Celebration Service, is available on the website: www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk. Click on Magna Carta on the homepage.
ISSUED BY MARIANNE HULLAND, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757034. marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
