Welsh Cavalry to get freedom of Shrewsbury

Residents are encouraged to line the streets to honour the return of the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards.

The cavalry will be granted freedom of the town at a ceremony at St Chad's Church on Wednesday at 1pm.

Following the service, the regiment – more commonly known as The Welsh Cavalry – will parade through the town to the Guildhall where Mayor, Councillor Beverley Baker, will receive the troops.

The regiment will march via Smithfield Road, Castle Gates, St Mary's Street, High Street, Barker Street, Welsh Bridge and Frankwell Short Stay Car Park.

A series of rolling road closures will be in place from 1.45pm until 3pm.

The regiment, which was formed in 1959 and is the only remaining Welsh Cavalry regiment, has recently returned from Op Herrick 20, the final deployment of UK Combat Troops in Afghanistan.

It recruits across Shropshire, as well as Wales and the other border counties.

Councillor Baker said: "It will be a great honour to receive the homecoming troops and to grant freedom of the town to the Welsh Cavalry.

"This is in recognition of the long association and cordial relations which have existed between the town and the regiment and the work of the British Forces in helping to defend the interests of the United Kingdom."

Commanding Officer Lt Col Will Davies MBE added: "We are absolutely delighted to be receiving the freedom of the town of Shrewsbury on Wednesday, and are looking forward to marching through its streets.

"The majority of soldiers in the regiment call Wales and the border counties home, and it feels very fitting that we should be marking our return from our recent deployment in Shrewsbury. The atmosphere is certainly getting festive which adds an extra special feeling when returning from six months away from home. After the parades this week our soldiers will be looking forward to a well-earned period of leave, and time spent with their friends and families."