Adjutant General’s Corps 30th Anniversary Freedom Parade
By kind permission of the Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Derek Green, on Saturday 15 October, the Adjutant General’s Corps will be exercising their right of Freedom of Entry in Winchester by parading in the city centre in celebration of the Corps 30th anniversary.
The right of Freedom of Entry is an ancient privilege and allows the Corps to parade through the city to the beat of drums, with swords drawn, bayonets fixed and colours flying. It comes from a period in history when only trusted military units would be allowed to carry arms within city boundaries.
The event has been arranged jointly by the Adjutant General’s Corp and Winchester City Council. Hosted by The Mayor of Winchester, it will be attended by the Lord-Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Hampshire and the High Steward of Winchester in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester, Deputy Colonel in Chief of the Adjutant General's Corps.
Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Derek Green says:
"It is an honour to be part of the Adjutant General’s Corps 30th anniversary celebrations and for them to mark it by exercising their Freedom of Entry right into Winchester. It’s also an example of our excellent relationship with the military as recently reinforced by our recent signing of the Armed Forces Covenant too. I encourage residents and visitor alike to come and witness the parade, it promises to be an outstanding spectacle."
Colonel Commandant Adjutant General’s Corps, Lieutenant General Ivan Jones CB:
"Formed in April 1992, the Adjutant General’s Corps was granted the Freedom of Entry to the City of Winchester in 1996. As a Corps, this will be the fifth occasion we have had the privilege and honour to exercise this right, but the first in the presence of our Deputy Colonel in Chief, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester. The Corps will be displaying the new Corps Cypher, recently approved by Her Late Majesty The Queen, Colonel in Chief of the Adjutant General’s Corps."
Format
The parade will comprise of marching troops and The Band of the Rifles. They will leave from Peninsula Barracks at 11am, marching down the High Street and will culminate with the troops forming up for an inspection on The Broadway at approximately 11.10am.
Residents and visitors are welcome to view the parade as it passes along the route, but should be advised that The Broadway will be closed to traffic from 8am and buses from 10.30am – midday.