Date set for Ludlow troops parade
A date has been set for more than 100 soldiers to march through the streets of Ludlow to mark 325 years since their regiment was created.
The decision to grant the Royal Welsh Regiment the Freedom of Ludlow was agreed in February, and Ludlow Town Council promised a major parade would take place this year.
Now a date has been set to deliver on that promise - and the call is out for volunteers to help make the day one to remember.
The regiment will be coming to town on September 20, with around 60 troops and a military band, joined by comrades and cadets, marching through the town's historic streets after a ceremony at Ludlow Castle.
Gina Wilding, clerk of Ludlow Town Council said: "We're encouraging people to come along and wave flags and cheer the troops. When the schools are back we hope to liaise with them to get all the children lining the streets - we want to create a great atmosphere. It will be a fantastic event."
She said a commemorative programme will be produced.
"The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Algernon Heber-Percy, will be inspecting the regiment at the ceremony, and then the Freedom of the Town will be granted by the Mayor of Ludlow, Councillor Paul Draper.
"A flag will be flown on the castle and there will be a bugler in the tower of the inner bailey.
"The standards will process from the inner bailey towards a dias in front of the bailey entrance, with the Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff of Shropshire and the Mayor."
The regiment will then march 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, she said.
"They will fall out outside Ludlow Assembly Rooms, where there will be a reception held after the event," she said.
"It's a huge event to organise, and lots of local people will be assisting us.
"We'd be very interested to hear from anyone who would like to help out, especially with stewarding road closures on the day."
She said Margaret Edwards and Jean Parker of Poyner's Drapers had offered to run another shop window display competition like the one held this week for the centenary of the First World War.
Mrs Edwards said: "We want every shop in town to put up flags and bunting."
The Royal Welsh last marched through the town in 1997 at a homecoming parade after service in Bosnia.
However, it has never been granted the Freedom of Ludlow.
The regiment, originally known as the Royal Welch Fusiliers, was raised by Lord Herbert at Ludlow Castle on March 16, 1689.
It became the Royal Welsh Regiment in 2006, when the Fusiliers merged with the Royal Regiment of Wales.
As dictated by tradition, the parade will be led by a goat, sourced from the Queen's private herd of wild goats in north Wales, that has the honorary rank of Corporal and is the only serving "soldier" still to have a cigarette ration - said to be apparently good for its digestion.
Anyone who would like to get involved can contact Ludlow Town Council on 01584 871 970.
