Chance to honour troops in Perth parade

Jul 3 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A MAJOR homecoming march through Perth by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards regiment will be held in Perth on Tuesday, July 7, to mark Armed Forces Day.

The parade is part of a day of celebrations for the first ever national Armed Forces Day – an opportunity for the nation to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community, from currently serving troops to Service families, and from veterans to recruits.

As well as the parade, the Royals Scots Dragoon Guards will perform a Beating Retreat outside Perth Concert Hall in the evening.

One of the regiment’s Challenger 2 tanks will also be on show outside Perth City Hall all day, along with an exhibition about the work of the Dragoon Guards, who have recently seen action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The parade, complete with representatives from the cavalry of the regiment on horseback, will begin at 11am in Rose Terrace, and will pass through Atholl Street, Kinnoull Street, High Street and St John’s Street before finishing up in North St John’s Place. The regiment will be accompanied by the Regimental Pipes and Drums, who won a recent Classical Brit Award for Album of the Year.

The Military Brass Band of the Heavy Cavalry will also accompany the parade, along with veterans of the three services – Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and the Army.

The Regiment will salute Provost John Hulbert, the Lord Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross Brigadier Mel Jameson and Lieutenant General Sir Alistair Irwin KCB CBE as they march down High Street.

All veterans are welcome to come along and take part in the parade, or alternatively they can come to the saluting dais during the parade to take the salute.

At 7pm that evening, servicemen and women from the Dragoon Guards will perform the spectacular Beating Retreat ceremony on the plaza in front of the Concert Hall, accompanied by the Military Brass Band of the Heavy Cavalry.

Mill Street will be closed to traffic at 6.30pm and remain closed for the duration of the free event, in order to accommodate the crowds that are expected to come and watch.

Provost Hulbert said: “This is a unique opportunity for the people of Perth and Kinross to come out an honour the brave servicemen and women who serve our country so well all over the world.

“The events being held in Perth for Armed Services Day promise to be truly spectacular, and I would urge people to come along and take part in the celebrations and to pay their respects. It promises to be a very colourful day in Perth.

“I would like to thank the Royal Dragoon Guards for coming to Perth.

“I’m sure local people will ensure that they receive a very warm welcome indeed.”

Lord Lieutenant Mel Jameson added: “Armed Forces Day is an opportunity for us all to show our appreciation for the three Armed Services.

“Many of them are involved in difficult, demanding and dangerous operations. We are extremely proud of them, and welcome them and our greatly admired veterans to Perth on July 7.”