Denbighshire Councillors have unanimously voted to formerly offer the Honorary Freedom of the County to the Royal Welsh at a special meeting of the Full Council today (Tuesday).
Lieutenant Colonel Nick Lock and Regimental Sergeant Major Neil Jones were at the meeting to formerly accept the Freedom of the County and gave a presentation to members on their tour of Afghanistan, where they were based in Camp Bastion, Helmand Province earlier this year.
There are strict protocols and procedures to be followed when granting the freedom of a county and Denbighshire has powers under the Local Government Act of 1972 S.249, to “admit to be the honorary freemen of the county or county borough, persons of distinction and persons who have in the opinion of the Council, rendered eminent services to the county or county borough”.
The granting of the Freedom of the County to the Royal Welsh means that the name of the Regiment will be placed on the Roll of Honorary Freemen of the County and the Council would give the right of the Regiment to march through the streets of the County on all ceremonial occasions with colours flying, drums beating and bayonets fixed. The Regiment can return every three or four years to exercise this.
Now a project team will be set up to organise the Freedom Ceremony and Parade, which is
expected to be held on 11 June next year in Denbigh.
The proposed route of the parade could see the regiment marching to Denbigh Castle from Caledfryn for the presentation ceremony followed by a march down Vale Street to the Leisure Centre for refreshments.
Denbighshire’s Chairman, Councillor Meirick Lloyd Davies, said: “I am delighted that our members have voted unanimously to give the freedom of the county to the Royal Welsh.
“It is a real honour for our county and we will all look forward to seeing them march through Denbigh for the first time next year.”
