People in Stone have been urged to line the streets this weekend to show their appreciation to HMS Collingwood, whose sailors are marching through the town.
Around 150 sailors accompanied by military marching band will be parading through the streets of Stone and Stafford on Saturday 10th March.
The servicemen and women from HMS Collingwood are exercising their freedom of the borough. The Fareham-based naval unit has a long association with the market town of Stone and was granted ‘Freedom of the Borough’ more than 30 years ago. The original freedom parade took place in Stone in 1979.
The military will start their parade in Stone at 10.30am from Westbridge Park, with Staffordshire’s Lord Lieutenant, Sir James Hawley, and mayor of Stafford Borough Stan Highfield, taking the salute in the High Street along with civic dignitaries including Stone town mayor June Price and Commodore Mike Mansergh CBE.
The parade will be followed by a service at St Michael and St Wulfad’s Church and HMS Collingwood will meet with local army and sea cadets who have been invited to the event by the borough council.
The company will then make the short trip to Stafford where they will parade through the town with bayonets fixed and flags flying. They will step out from Tipping Street at 2pm and the salute will be taken in the Market Square.
Commanding Officer, Commodore Mansergh, said: “HMS Collingwood was honoured to be granted the Freedom of the Borough of Stafford on 31 March 1979 – an honour we are very proud of.”
Councillor Highfield said: “Our borough is very proud of our military connections and every time our brave servicemen and women have exercised their right to march they have been supported by hundreds of local people who turn out to show how much we appreciate them and I hope this weekend will be no exception.”
Stone was originally linked with the Royal Navy through HMS St Vincent which was named after admiral of the fleet, Earl St Vincent. He was born John Jervis at Meaford Hall near Stone and buried in the town’s St Michael’s Parish Church.
When HMS St Vincent was closed down in 1969 it was decided that HMS Collingwood, a large naval training establishment of 1500 men and women based in Fareham, near Portsmouth, would take over this affiliation.
The granting of Freedom is a ceremonial occasion to mark the partnership between the Armed Forces and civilians in a local community. HMS Collingwood last exercised the right in 1997.
2 comments
Kerry
I wish I could take part in lining the streets for this parade, but I run Stone Scout and Guide Band on a Saturday morning down at Westbridge Park so it’s going to be hard enough getting there! Will try and catch them in Stafford though 🙂
Little Bit of Stone
Hi Kerry. The parade starts from Westbridge Park, so you could see them head off!