The 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment are to exercise the Freedom of the Borough of St Edmundsbury as part of their homecoming celebrations after returning from Afghanistan.
The Battalion, known as the Vikings, will take part in a thanksgiving service on Angel Hill before parading along Churchgate Street, Guildhall Street and Abbeygate Street with the Minden Band of the Queen's Division.
The Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour which can be bestowed by the council. It was originally granted to the Suffolk Regiment in 1944 and the 1st East Anglian Regiment in 1963, which later became the Royal Anglian Regiment.
Cllr Margaret Charlesworth, Mayor of St Edmundsbury, said:
"I do hope the people of the borough will join me in this short service on the Angel Hill on 23 November to give thanks for the safe return of the regiment. There will be a minute's silence during which we will pay our respects to those who lost their lives in both this tour and others."
The parade will celebrate the regiment's homecoming. The Royal Anglians have just taken part in a six month operation tour of the Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during which nine members were killed. The regiment will exercise their Freedom in Norwich the day before the event in Bury St Edmunds.
Angel Hill, Crown Street, Chequer Square, Churchgate Street, Guildhall Street and Abbeygate Street will be closed to traffic from 8.30am to 2pm on the day of the parade.
ENDS
ISSUED BY LIZ HEARNSHAW, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033. liz.hearnshaw@stedsbc.gov.uk
