It was a spectacular and historic moment for Shropshire. More than 150 soldiers marched through Telford after Telford & Wrekin Council – for the first time – awarded their regiment the Freedom of the Borough.

And the crowds defied the drizzle to turn out and pay tribute to the Rifles Regiment at the special Freedom of the Borough ceremony on Saturday.

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The ice cream weather of last week was replaced by heavy rain in the morning as the regiment gathered in Telford Town Park to meet visitors and put on displays.

The weather improved as the day went on and a new remembrance memorial was unveiled in the Town Park before the Rifles were inspected by civic dignitaries led by the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Algernon Heber Percy Esq.

The memorial, on the edge of the Arena in Telford Town Park, commemorates all those from the borough affected by conflicts, past and present.

Crowds gathered in the arena at the park for the Freedom of the Borough ceremony and cheered as the parade formed to march through Telford.

The march, to the tune of the regiment’s band and buglers, signified the acceptance and exercising of the Freedom of the Borough with the Lord Lieutenant taking the salute.

Roads were closed around the town centre from 4pm to 4.30pm to allow the march and parade to take place, with free parking on the council’s civic offices site for people who came from all over the county to watch the day’s events.

Barbara Taylor, 57, made the trip from Market Drayton with husband Ken, 55, to see the parade.

“It was a real spectacle and a great day,” she said.

“We know people who used to be in the King’s Shropshire and this regiment has a long and distinguished link with the county.

“The Freedom of the Borough is fully deserved and it was great to see people turn out and cheer them on.”

The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry was amalgamated with three other county light infantry in 1968 to become the Light Infantry, which in turn became part of the Rifles in 2007.

The Rifles trace their values and heritage back to the Peninsular War and was the regiment portrayed in ITV’s drama series Sharpe.

By Wayne Beese