On Saturday 8th June a number of veterans will gather in Swanage to celebrate 40 years since the Army first assisted Swanage Railway.
As part of the twentieth anniversary of this association, in 2004 Swanage Town Council offered the ‘Liberty of Swanage’ to the Royal Corps of Signals. In July 2005 Lieutenant Colonel Matt Fensom, the Commanding Officer of 11th (Royal School of Signals) Signal Regiment, accepted this honour and the Regiment then paraded through the town ‘with swords drawn and bayonets fixed’. As part of the D-Day 80 commemoration the Town Council has formally invited the Regiment to exercise the Liberty of the Town on 8th June.
On Saturday, 85 soldiers will use Swanage Station as an admin base for the day, and the Women's Institute will be joining them to offer refreshments.
The Liberty Parade will form in Gilbert Road at 9.30am, setting off at 9.40am towards the Fire Station, and then proceeding along Kings Road West, Rempstone Road, Victoria Avenue, to Shore Road.
At 10.00am the Town Mayor, Cllr Tina Foster, will inspect the soldiers in Shore Road (near the Mowlem Theatre) and there will then be three short addresses. At 10.20am soldiers will march through the town returning to Gilbert Rd via Kings Road East.
The Royal British Legion will then be holding a Commemorative Service at the War Memorial, Recreation Ground, Swanage at 11.00am. All welcome.