8:00am Monday 22nd March 2010
By Rachel Allen
Councillors unanimously voted to grant the first Honorary Freedom of the Town to all Armed Forces at a special meeting on Monday to mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of Corsham Town Council.
Corsham Town Council chairman Allan Bosley is pleased with the decision, and said: “Corsham and the armed services have an association that has lasted almost 100 years and that unique relationship between the town and the three armed services is set to continue with the MoD’s investment in new facilities at Basil Hill and the concentration of the MoD’s communication function at Corsham.
“The many forces personnel who live and work in the town make a material difference to Corsham and what happens here.”
It means that all armed forces units in Corsham “are entitled to march through the town on occasions with drums beating, colours flying and bayonets fixed”.
He said: “The fact that the Ministry of Defence is here at all is a result of the distinctive quarrying history of Corsham and the surrounding areas, and the underground workings have been a catalyst to attracting all three services who have used the space for military storage, operational control and manufacturing.
“The town council regards the commitment of the MoD and the armed services to Corsham as a privilege, and as an opportunity to work together to the benefit of the people of Corsham.”
The official scroll granting the Freedom of the Town will be presented on Armed Forces Day, June 26, at a ceremony at the Town Hall.
The ceremony will be preceded by a march through the town.
And the event will be followed by a celebration at Springfield Recreation Ground to mark Armed Forces Day, with the Corsham fete running on the same day from 1pm to 6pm.
Any groups interested in having a stall at the fete should contact Sharon Thomas on 01249 702130.
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