14 - Hundreds turn out for parade

 

More than 100 soldiers were welcomed to Dudley in the prestigious Freedom of the Borough parade after the regiment was awarded the honour last year.

 

The parade was made up of the second and third battalions of the Worcesters and Foresters and the Staffords.

 

They set off from Vicar Street before moving along the High Street and halting in Market Place to rapturous applause from the gathered crowds. The regiment saluted the Mayor of Dudley and the civic party and received an inspection from the borough’s first citizen.

 

The mayor was also presented with the regimental colours by the colonel of the regiment. The parade then headed along New Street, Priory Road, Ednam Road, St James’s Road before ending at Dudley Council House where the soldiers were invited back for refreshments

 

 

“It was a very special occasion and I was delighted to see so many people turn out to support it.  We are very proud of our association with the regiment and we are pleased to see people share that sense of pride.” 

 

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Lieutenant Colonel Simon Banton, said:

 

“Today was a recognition of really strong community links between Dudley and the Mercian Regiment. The regiment is part of this community, although we serve in different parts of the world we are very much part of Dudley.

 

“It was fantastic. The recognition we got was wonderful and the lads loved to see friends and family cheering them on.”

 

The Mercian Regiment was formed in September last year, when the Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters and Cheshire regiments merged.

 

The council granted the regiment freedom of the borough in October last year.