5 - Soldiers parade through the streets of Dudley

Archived news release from 2008

 

The Mercian Regiment was awarded the prestigious Freedom of the Borough last year.

 

More than 100 soldiers from the regiment are now planning to parade through the streets of the borough to celebration the accolade.

Councillor David Stanley, Mayor of Dudley, will welcome the troops on March 14.

 

 

“We are delighted that the Mercian Regiment will be parading through Dudley, and it promises to be a very special occasion.

 

“We are very proud of our association with the regiment and hope people will share that sense of pride when they see them march through the town.”

 

The parade, which will be made up of the second and third battalions of the Worcesters and Foresters and the Staffords, will set off from Vicar Street at 12.30pm, move along High Street and halt in Market Place to salute the Mayor and receive an inspection from the borough’s first citizen.

 

The Mayor will also be presented with the regimental colours by the colonel of the regiment. The parade will then head along New Street, Priory Road, Ednam Road, St James’s Road and end at the council car park, where the soldiers will be invited back to the council house for refreshments.

 

There will be several road closures during the march including King Street, Vicar Street, High Street, Wolverhampton Street, Union Street, Market Place, Priory Street, Priory Road, Ednam Road, New Street, Tower Street, Stone Street, St. James’s Road and Parsons Street. Diversions will be in place during the closures.

 

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.