Regiment of war hero is honoured
SEFTON Council is to grant the Freedom of the Borough to the regiment of Southport war hero Matthew Titchener.
Councillors will vote to bestow the honour on The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment during the full council meeting at Bootle Town Hall tonight.
Among the Regiment’s notable soldiers is Major Matthew Titchener, 32, who was expecting his second child, when he was killed during an ambush, in Iraq, in 2003.
Major Titchener had been married for nearly six years, with a (then) two-year-old son called Matheson.
He left a widow, Raqual Harper-Titchener, 29, who was at the time 20 weeks pregnant with their second child, a daughter, named Angel.
Titchener, a member of the Royal Military Police was com- missioned in 1992 into the King’s Regiment. His death is commemorated on the war memorial in Southport.
He served worldwide including Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Jordan, Egypt and Canada. He served as an Instructor at the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick and Strensall and commanded 26 Cadet Training Team in Manchester.
The MoD described him as an officer of the very highest calibre: intelligent, highly motivated and a dedicated leader. He set the highest of standards and successfully ensured all who came within his influence were inspired by his strength of character, sense of humour and compassion.
His passions outside Army life were his family and football. He was a talented footballer, qualified referee and RMP football team manager. He was a Liverpool FC fan.
His wife, Raqual, said: “Matt was a perfect husband and a brilliant dad. He died doing a jobj bh he was proudd off andd was professional to the very end.”
The Freedom of the Borough is the highest award that the council can bestow.
A council may admit “persons of distinction and persons who have, in the opinion of the council, rendered eminent services to the city or borough”, as Honorary Freemen. The award dates back to Middle Ages, when Freemen had commercial privileges and a route into a positioniti off power ini a town.t
If councillors grant the Freedom of the Borough to the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, arrangements would be made for the Freedom to be bestowed upon the Regiment at a ceremony held on a date to be determined later this year.
Following the council meeting, the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment would march in Bootle’s streets to the Town Hall.
War hero Major Matthew Titchener – and, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment parading through the streets . . . as they would do in Bootle later this year, once they have been granted Freedom of the Borough of Sefton