Top civic honour for hero soldiers

They have bravely done their duty for their country and now the Shropshire town they call home has bestowed on them a top civic honour in return.

Irish eyes were smiling as hero soldiers from 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, were granted the Freedom of Market Drayton on Saturday.

More than 300 soldiers paraded through the town centre in the sunshine carrying rifles and bayonets with regimental colours flying and pipes and drums playing.

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And more than 1,000 flag-waving residents lined the streets as applause rippled out when the parade, led by regimental mascot Finn the Irish wolfhound, also known as Brian Boru IX, passed along Cheshire Street, Shropshire Street and Frogmore Road.

Market Drayton Town Council decided to bestow the honour on the regiment at a meeting last year.

The move was in recognition of the close bond the town has formed with the regiment, which tragically lost three soldiers – Ranger Aaron McCormick, Lance Corporal Stephen McKee and Ranger David Dalzell – during its last tour of Afghanistan.

Military top brass, politicians and other dignitaries attended the parade, which paused in Cheshire Street for the freedom-granting ceremony.

It saw Councillor Kath Brown, Mayor of Market Drayton, join commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Colin Weir to inspect the troops, who were dressed in full regimental uniform complete with distinctive green hackles on their caps.

Then the Reverend Martin Tanner led prayers for the soldiers before town crier Geoff Russell read from a scroll confirming the town council’s decision to grant the freedom to the regiment.

During the ceremony Councillor Brown said: “The Royal Irish Regiment has become very special to this town and we are proud you have become part of our community. Market Drayton has a great fondness for the Royal Irish Regiment.”

Lieutenant General Sir Philip Trousdell, Colonel of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, thanked Market Drayton, Shrewsbury and the rest of Shropshire for the way the soldiers and their families had been made to feel at home since moving to Clive Barracks in Tern Hill in 2007.

He said it was a rare honour for the regiment to be granted the freedom of a town outside its main recruiting area of Northern Ireland, adding that Market Drayton’s warmth towards the soldiers and their families had been ‘immensely reassuring’ for those serving on the frontline last year.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Weir said: “We have been warmly accepted as an integral part of the local community here in Shropshire.”

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson also attended the ceremony with wife Rose.

Mr Paterson, who is also Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, said: “It was a brilliant day and I could sense the real warmth of the welcome from the people of Market Drayton.” People who turned out to support the soldiers said it was a ‘brilliant’ day.

Resident Steven Mazan said: “It’s been a great occasion and these soldiers really deserve the freedom of the town.”

Councillor David Minnery, Shropshire Council member for Market Drayton West, said: “The turnout was huge and it was a great day for the town.”