Squaddies’ Paisley parade set to be a hit
Royal Engineers will mark Freedom of Renfrewshire
Squaddies will lead a towncentre parade in the runup to Armed Forces’ Day celebrations.
The 102 Field Squadron Royal Engineers will march to Paisley Town Hall, where they will be inspected by the Lord-Lieutenant of Renfrewshire
The soldiers have been awarded the Freedom of Renfrewshire and will exercise their right to troop through the town ahead of the annual thanksgiving services.
Sergeant Major Stewart Vandal will lead the servicemen during the procession.
He said: “It’s a very special occasion for everybody involved with 102 Field Squadron.
“We are celebrating our 50th anniversary and will be joined by cadets and veterans, celebrating different generations of those signing up.
“We’d love to see as many people as possible for what promises to be a memorable day.”
The march takes place on Saturday.
Families are expected to fill the streets to cheer on the sappers.
A week later, the UK marks Armed Forces Day, when those in the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force are recognised.
Provost Lorraine Cameron will join the public for a special service at Paisley Abbey and has hailed the sailors, airmen and soldiers working to keep the country safe.
She said: “Our armed forces show extreme bravery in the most testing of times and we must ensure we support them wherever possible.
“Armed Forces’ Day gives our communities the opportunity to come together to express our gratitude to our servicemen and women.
“I would encourage as many people as possible to attend to mark their outstanding contribution and pay our respects to those we have lost.”
Army, Royal Air Force and Navy personnel will join exservicemen and their families, the provosts of Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, as well as Guy Clark, Lord-Lieutenant of Renfrewshire at the Abbey.
Reverend Alan Birss will honour the men and women who have served in the past and present, with music from the Renfrewshire Schools Brass Band and the Inverclyde Schools Choir.
Wreaths will be laid at Hawkhead Cemetery, with a flag- raising ceremony outside Renfrewshire’s civic headquarters.
The Royal British Legion will raise the standard, which will fly for seven days.
A collection will be held and all donations will be divided equally between charities Erskine, the SSAFA and Soldiers off the Street.
The 102 Field Squadron was awarded the Freedom of Renfrewshire earlier this year.
It has been deployed in exercises across the globe, including Kenya, the Falkland and Ascension Islands, as well as expeditions to Greenland and Canada.
Squaddies provided reinforcements during the Iraq War, in Afghanistan and during peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, Cyprus and South Sudan.
The flag-raising service takes place on Friday, June 16, at 11am, outside Renfrewshire House on Cotton Street.
The Paisley Abbey service begins at 10am the next day.