Community to meet the Regiment

Telford & Wrekin Council to honour Regiment with Freedom of the Borough.

Telford & Wrekin residents, visitors to the borough and people from all over Shropshire and beyond will be able to meet the Rifles Regiment in Telford on Saturday, May 29 when Telford & Wrekin Council will be honouring the Regiment with the Freedom of the Borough. 

A parade for inspection and the Freedom Ceremony will be held in Telford Town Park Arena and the Regiment will be staging a display of their vehicles around the area of the old Norman Chapel where visitors have the chance to meet with members of the Regiment.   

On parade will be Riflemen from the Second Battalion, the Rifles based in Northern Ireland, E (Rifles) Company from Shrewsbury, Shropshire members of the Light Infantry and Rifles Association, as well as Rifles badged Cadets from the Shropshire Army Cadet Force. They will be led by the Band and Bugles of the Rifles.

Following the ceremony, the Rifles will exercise the Freedom of the Borough by marching around Telford Town Centre. Around 150 men will be marching and it will be a great opportunity for people to see their Regiment, to offer support and pay their own personal tribute. 

The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Algernon Heber – Percy Esq, the Queen’s representative in the county will take the salute. The Freedom of the Borough Ceremony will take place at 3:05 pm led by the Mayor of the Borough and The Rifles Colonel Commandant’s Representative.

The Rifles Regiment is the largest infantry regiment in the British Army, consisting of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies. The Regiment is the successor to the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry with its strong historic links to the county and the borough. It was formed in 2007 from The Devon & Dorset Light Infantry, The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire Wiltshire Light Infantry, The Light Infantry and the Royal Green Jackets.

The Regiment has been deployed worldwide including postings to The Falklands, South Georgia, Kosovo, Belize, Iraq and Afghanistan where they have been actively involved in recent conflicts. Telford & Wrekin Council Leader Andrew Eade  said, “This event will give people a great opportunity to meet with their Regiment – to speak with some of the troops and  learn something of their history and current commitments.  I am sure there will be a good turnout because  people want to show their support  and extend good wishes to the Regiment.  We  are delighted to have made this decision to honour them  with the Freedom of the Borough and I am looking forward to further strengthening  our links with the Regiment in the future”.

Saturday May 29 will mark a double celebration in the borough as a new Remembrance Memorial will be unveiled in Telford Town Park. The Memorial will be dedicated at 2.35 pm by the Ecumenical Dean of Telford. The Memorial is being created by artist stonemason Malcolm Sier in his workshop at Jackfield near Ironbridge.