ROYAL SIGNALS FREEDOM OF RICHMOND PARADE – FIRST TIME SINCE 1964

Friday 12th July saw the Royal Signals Freedom of Richmond parade through the town starting at the Cricket Club and finishing at the Town Hall. 

The parade was part of Project Centurion, a series of events marking the Royal Signals’ 100 year association with Catterick Garrison and Richmond. 

The parade was led by the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and was followed by serving soldiers of York based 2nd Signal Regiment with a contingent of veterans from the Royal Signals Association bringing up the rear. 

The Freedom of Richmond parade was last carried out on the 40th anniversary in 1964.

Jon Giddens, Richmond School and Sixth Form College Site Manager, marching with the veterans, served with the Royal Signals. He completed basic training in Catterick Garrison in 1989. He served until 2012 leaving as a Staff Sergeant having served on operations in Northern Ireland, Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan

The Mayor Bob White, also a former Royal Signals soldier, addressed the parade along with local MP Rishi Sunak who chatted with the soldiers and veterans at a lunch in the Town Hall.

Jon Giddens can be seen on the far right of the photo.