RAF personnel parading through three Shropshire towns to mark 100th birthday

Members of the public are urged to turn out and show their support for the military personnel when they parade through Wem, Market Drayton and Shrewsbury.

Today up to 100 personnel from RAF Shawbury were marching through Wem, starting at Wem Train Station at 1.15pm. Tomorrow they will parade through Shrewsbury.

Mayor of Shrewsbury Councillor Peter Nutting will welcome the staff from RAF Shawbury at Shrewsbury Castle before the parade starts at 9.25am and makes its way through the town towards St Chad’s Church, where a service will be held at 10am.

Led by the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment, the parade will march via Castle Street, Pride Hill, Shoplatch, St John’s Hill and St Chad’s Terrace.

A series of rolling road closures will be in place from 9.15am until 10am to allow the parade to proceed safely and there may be some minor delays to traffic.

Councillor Nutting, said: “It will be a great honour to receive the Royal Air Force personnel at the Castle before they march through the town. I am proud to help celebrate the centenary of the RAF as well as the base at Shawbury.”

Support

Station Commander at RAF Shawbury, Group Captain Chuck Norris said: “RAF Shawbury has a rich history spanning over 100 years within the county of Shropshire. Shrewsbury honoured us by granting us the Freedom to the town way back in 1968 and we are thrilled to be able to say thank you for their continued support from everyone based at RAF Shawbury.

"I hope as many people as possible manage to watch this parade which will be a great spectacle with over 100 personnel marching through the town behind the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment. In this 100th year of the Royal Air Force it is our way of celebrating, commemorating and hopefully inspiring pride in the service and our county town.”

Later in the day, at 2.45pm, a parade will take place in Market Drayton, starting in Cheshire Street.

RAF Shawbury’s association with the county started in June 1917 when flying training first commenced. Despite a break from 1920 until 1938, the unit has played a vital role in the training of pilots, rearcrew, air operations and air traffic control personnel since then.

Having the Freedom of the Town allows the regiments to parade unhindered, and is an affirmation of the bond between the regiment and the citizenry. It is an ancient honour granted to martial organisations, allowing them the privilege to march into the city "with drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed".

It is an entirely ceremonial honour, usually bestowed upon a unit with historic ties to the area, as a token of appreciation for their long and dedicated service.