Regiment is all ready to parade
A Royal Artillery regiment is to parade through the streets of Sunderland.
To exercise its Freedom of the City, the 4 Regiment Royal Artillery – known as the “North East Gunners” – will stage a parade at noon on Saturday, July 30.
The regiment was granted this civic honour by the people of Sunderland in 1974 and several hundred of its members will take part in the event.
It picked up the “North East Gunners” tag as more than two-thirds of recruits are drawn from the region.
Gunners will march in Burdon Road, then Fawcett Street, High Street West, Union Street, into Market Square, Holmeside and turning right back into Burdon Road for a salute alongside the Burdon Road War Memorial.
Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council, Coun Harry Trueman, who is also the city’s Armed Forces Champion, said: “I hope the people of our city and our region can join us to support the parade as we mark the close bond between 4 Regiment Royal Artillery and Sunderland.
“I know how proud everyone is of the ‘Gunners’.
“The parade is a great opportunity to celebrate and embrace this freedom tradition and to give all the ‘Gunners’ a warm welcome and reception.”
In recent years, the regiment has served in Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Iraq and on peace-keeping duties with the United Nations in Cyprus, as well as three tours of Afghanistan.
Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Rob Alston MBE RA said: “We are deeply proud of our association with this region, and immensely proud to have been bestowed the honour of the Freedom of the City of Sunderland.