The people of Maidstone had the chance to show their support for the county town’s troops at this year’s Civic and Freedom Parade on Sunday, May 22nd.  Many of the sappers on parade will have seen action in Afghanistan. The parade marks the start of a new Mayor’s year and the troops exercised their right as Freemen of the Borough to march with bayonets fixed, colours flying and drums beating. They were led by the Brigade of Gurkhas Band.  In total 150 British Soldiers and Gurkhas took part, made up from 20 Field Squadron, 50 HQ and Support Squadron, 70 Gurkha Field Support Squadron, and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Workshop attached to 36 Engineer Regiment.

After the parade had passed the Town Hall, dignitaries, as well as Members of Maidstone Borough Council formed a procession and made their way from the Town Hall to All Saints Church; the Mayor lead the procession in a horse-drawn landau carriage.