Proud day as Ludlow honours regiment

The special parade commemorated the 325th anniversary of the raising of the Royal Welch Fusiliers (RWF) at Ludlow Castle on Saturday.

The freedom of the town was presented to the commanding officer of the regiment inside the grounds of Ludlow Castle. Then the parade marshal asked for the regiment to exercise its right to march through the town with banners flying, band playing and bayonets fixed.

More than 100 soldiers, preceded by the regimental goat, marched through the town to mark the 325th anniversary of the raising of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers by Lord Herbert at Ludlow Castle in 1689.

The regiment marched from the castle, up High Street, across Bull Ring into Tower Street and on to Upper Galdeford, before turning down Station Drive and back up to the town centre via Corve Street. The regiment came to a stop outside Ludlow Assembly Rooms where a reception was held after the event.

The Mayor of Ludlow, Councillor Paul Draper, said: "Ludlow's association with the Royal Welsh Regiment goes back centuries and it was wonderful to welcome the regiment home to where it was in part founded so long ago."

Councillor Draper added: "We in Ludlow are proud of our military connections and none more so than being the birthplace of such an illustrious regiment."

The Royal Welsh Regiment was formed from the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Wales on St David's Day in 2006.

They last marched through the town in 1997 at a special homecoming parade after service in Bosnia.

The Royal Welch was formed in 2006 when the Royal Welch Fusiliers amalgamated with the Royal Regiment of Wales.

The freedom of the town was presented to the commanding officer of the regiment inside the grounds of Ludlow Castle on Saturday.

The regimental goat is sourced from the Queen's private herd of wild goats in north Wales.

The goat has the honorary rank of corporal and is the only serving "soldier" still to have a cigarette ration, which is apparently "good for its digestion".

Crowds waved flags and cheered as the soldiers came past, and the regiment came to a stop outside Ludlow Assembly Rooms where a reception was held after the event.

Former Mayor of Ludlow, Councillor Jim Smithers, was in office when it was decided to grant the honour back in February this year.

He said: "As well as being the 325th anniversary of the raising of the Royal Welch, 2014 is the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War. This was the perfect time to commemorate the gratitude of the people of Ludlow to the soldiers past and present who have served this country, not least the Royal Welsh Regiment and its predecessors."

The Royal Welch last marched through the town in 1997 at a special homecoming parade after service in Bosnia, though it has never been granted the Freedom of Ludlow.

Councillor Paul Draper, the current Mayor of Ludlow, said: "

We in Ludlow are proud of our military connections and none more so than being the birthplace of such an illustrious regiment."

The ancient spelling of Welch was officially restored in 1920.