Hexham Town Council
Council Office
St Andrews Cemetery
West Road
Hexham
NE46 3RR
Armed Forces Day
26 June 2010
On 26 June 2010 Hexham
was proud to host an event celebrating our Armed Forces, past, present
and future.
39 Regiment Royal Artillery 'The Welsh Gunners',
stationed at nearby Albemarle Barracks, supported Hexham's Armed
Forces Day in strength. There were more than 300 soldiers on duty
in Hexham with more than 200 taking part in a parade through Hexham,
wearing desert battle dress and bearing their arms. The four Battery's
of the Regiment currently in the UK paraded on Beaumont Street.
At each end of the road was a GMLRS [Guided Multiple Launch Rocket
System] battlefield vehicle, recently returned, like the troops
of 132 Battery, from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. 132 Battery
was inspected and Afghanistan campaign medals were presented to
the troops, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, by Jane, Duchess
of Northumberland the Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland. The other
batteries on parade were also inspected by Brigadier Tony Glissett,
Colonel Tony Glenton, the Mayor, Councillor Terry Robson and the
Deputy Mayor, Councillor Rad Hare.
When the inspections were completed the Mayor presented the Regiment
with the Honorary
Freedom of the town of Hexham. This is the first occasion the
Council has made such an award which was accepted by the Regimental
Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Paul Tombleson RA.
The troops then fixed their bayonets and marched back through the
town to dismissal at Wentworth car park. Large crowds lined the
streets and clapped and cheered as the troops marched past. [View
photographs here]
As well as the Parade there were static displays by 102 Battalion
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in the Park and various
fairground rides, sideshows, armed forces displays and exhibitions.
Finally there was a parachute drop by the Royal Artillery Black
Knights parachute display team onto the Sele.
Businesses in Hexham were also very supportive
of the event and many of them offered troops a discount on all purchases
they made during the day.
The Help for Heroes charity stall raised £2960.95
and Waitrose Ltd also raised £580.00.
The following businesses all helped to
sponsor or support the event so please thank them by buying whatever
you need from them.
Hexham Town Council would like to thank
the following people, companies and organisations for their help,
assistance and sponsorship given during the planning and organising
of Hexham’s Armed Forces Day.
Most of the following outlets will give our Armed Forces a generous
discount on the 26th. On behalf of our Navy, Army and Air Force
personnel, thank you for your generosity.
And the following outlets will also give our Armed Forces a discount
but we don’t have their web sites link yet!
The Exchange at Queens Hall
The Coffee Pot, St Marys Chare
Cranstons, Priestpopple
Tap and Spile Public House, Battle Hill
The Globe Inn Public House, Battle Hill
The Shiregate, Battle Hill
Mucho Gusto, Market Place
Weatherspoons Public House, Market Place
Bunters Coffee Shop, off Market Place
Greggs the Bakers, Fore Street
Quattro Mori, St Marys Chare
Ashley Matthews Jewellers, Market Place
